A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
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A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Creating an encouraging culture in which taking paternity leave is normalized and men can share their positive experiences is pivotal. Fathers in our survey felt that having the right policy in place wasn’t sufficient if the work culture looked down on them for taking time off. Some pointed out that in many cases “the company was supportive, but... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
The right policies are not enough - org culture needs to support dads taking leave
After fathers return from leave, many would love to stay just as involved in their children’s lives. Introducing more flexible work arrangements would allow employees, including men, to fulfill more of their family duties (for instance, arranging meetings around taking their children to school or providing time to attend doctor’s appointments).
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Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Returning dads need support and flexibility to remain involved in their child’s life
Creating an environment where leave does not negatively affect promotions would be ideal. And, at a minimum, increasing transparency about the impact that paternity leave has on career trajectory and promotion timeline would be a valuable starting point. As one father noted, it is hard when there are “not many men taking time off, and managers and... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Clarify impact on career trajectory when establishing enhanced paternity leave
Men who spend time with their children report a boost in happiness and fulfillment that may also extend to the workplace. In one 2018 study, 60 percent of men described childcare hours as “very meaningful,” almost double the percentage of men who described paid work that way.13 At the same time, many new fathers also discover a newfound... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Many of the fathers we interviewed said that they felt more motivated after taking leave and that they were considering staying in their organization longer. They also said that the leave led them to change the way they work, becoming more productive and prioritizing their time better. “Having kids made me very aware of how valuable my time is and... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Parents know how to manage their time better!
Parenting together in the first days, weeks, or months of a child’s life is instrumental in shaping family dynamics, our survey showed.
“The beginning of becoming parents was a very important time to be together,” one father said. “We both learned together about the baby, how to raise a child, and the approach we would take as parents and how to be... See more
“The beginning of becoming parents was a very important time to be together,” one father said. “We both learned together about the baby, how to raise a child, and the approach we would take as parents and how to be... See more
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Establish co-parenting from the get-go!
Many men also felt that their leave-taking could inspire others to make similar choices. One said that he enjoyed being an example “to friends and family that a successful male can proudly take paternity leave.”
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Take paternity leave loudly and proudly
While fathers do not go through the same physical strains as birth mothers (recognizing that some mothers have their children through adoption, surrogacy, etcetera), spending time at home to bond with their child and their partner is critical. Providing a longer paid-leave period, offering more flexibility in the timing of the leave period, or... See more
Wahi Diome-Deer • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Redress the imbalance between maternity and paternity leave
Indeed, research indicates that longer periods of paternal leave are associated with more frequent engagement in developmental tasks and caretaking during the first few years of children’s lives.
Karl Moore • A fresh look at paternity leave: Why the benefits extend beyond the personal
Increased length of paternity leave = more involved in care and household duties