Fathers' Leave, Fathers' Involvement and Child Development

2019

Produced at the request of the European Commission in the context of negotiations on a work-life balance package for families and carersIn the context of ongoing negotiations at EU level on adopting a work-life balance package for families and caregivers, Eurofound was requested by the European Commission to provide an update of the available data regarding paternity and parental leave for fathers. This report presents the currently available national statistics on the uptake of family-related leave by fathers over time across the EU28 and Norway, based on information compiled by the Network of Eurofound Correspondents

This presentation discusses the experience of Spanish fathers on childcare leave while their partners worked. It first analyses administrative policy and the gradual recognition of men’s right to childcare leave. No fewer than 65 000 men are estimated to have chosen this strategy over the last 10 years. The aim of the study was to ascertain what prompted these fathers’ decision, the reactions to it in their social surrounds and their own experience in singly undertaking childcare. To that end, 10 in-depth interviews were held with fathers who took at least 8 weeks of childcare leave while their partners returned to paid employment. Their replies show that taking on childcare singly is a powerful socialising tool for fathers in connection with this activity. The men themselves perceived that the experience fostered not only greater participation in caring for their children, but also strengthened parent-child emotional ties.

Contributions to management science, 2021

In a rapidly changing world, we will continue witnessing the growing momentum and recognition of the importance of men for gender equality, reconciling work-family life and impacting the future of their children" United Nations (2011)

Previous research has shown that fathers taking some time off work around childbirth, especially periods of leave of 2 or more weeks, are more likely to be involved in childcare related activities than fathers who do not do so. Furthermore, evidence suggests that children with fathers who are ‘more involved’ perform better during the early years than their peers with less involved fathers. This paper analyses data of four OECD countries — Australia; Denmark; United Kingdom; United States — to describe how leave policies may influence father’s behaviours when children are young and whether their involvement translates into positive child cognitive and behavioural outcomes. This analysis shows that fathers’ leave, father’s involvement and child development are related. Fathers who take leave, especially those taking two weeks or more, are more likely to carry out childcare related activities when children are young. This study finds some evidence that children with highly involved fat...

Bristol University Press eBooks, 2020

This article highlights the importance of social policy and working life contexts for employed fathers' use of parental leave. It directs attention towards the Norwegian model, which is known for its gender equality aims and welfare-state support to families, but which is also active in the regulation of working life. Based on interviews with fathers who have used the father's quota (a statutory, earmarked, non-transferable leave), findings run counter to work-family research where gendered assumptions in work organizations are found to prevent active fathering. The interviewed fathers report positive attitudes and supportive practices among employers. Fathers' stories show that their use of the leave is subject to cooperation and compromising processes at the workplace level that research on fatherhood and organizations have hardly addressed. RÉSUMÉ Cet article souligne l'importance des cadres de la politique sociale ainsi que de la vie professionnelle pour l'usage du congé parental des pères qui travaillent. L'article dirige l'attention vers le modèle norvégien. Parmi les objectifs de ce modèle est l'égalité des sexes, et il est également connu pour son soutien de l'État providence aux familles. Pourtant, il réglemente aussi activement la vie professionnelle. Fondée sur des entretiens avec des pères qui se sont servi du congé parental (un congé qui est statutaire, réservé et non transférable) les conclusions vont à l'encontre de la recherche travail-famille où l'on trouve que les suppositions genrées des organisations du travail empêchent la paternité active. Selon les pères qui ont été interviewés ici, il y a parmi les employeurs une attitude positive et des pratiques coopératives. Les histoires des pères indiquent que leur usage du congé est soumis à des processus de compromis et de coopération au niveau de lieu de travail qui n'ont guère été abordés dans la recherche sur la paternité et les organisations.

Edward Elgar Publishing eBooks, 2022

Research handbook on leave policy policy, employment protection law, etc.). In terms of policy instruments, leave policies are in some respect distinct as they install 'time rights' alongside the social right to cash benefits, in addition to explicit job protection, resulting in a complex and multi-layered character. The latter is even more pronounced when the leave rights' scope (i.e., for instance, the leave duration and benefit level) is considered in combination with entitlements and eligibility criteria that differ along numerous lines such as gender, employment type and status, family status, ethnicity, disability, etc. Moreover, leave policies are closely interrelated with benefits-in-kind, in particular, the early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. Leave policies for parents are therefore often treated together with ECEC as the two main pillars of 'childcare policies' (see, e.g., Szelewa & Polakowski, 2008; Javornik, 2014; Ciccia, 2017), or, as Daly and Rake (2003, p. 51) argued: 'The two measures most telling of how public policies treat care are parental leave, as distinct from maternity, and public childcare facilities.' Yet they are rarely considered in combination with flexible working arrangements or working time regulations (see, e.g., Gornick & Meyers, 2008) or broader welfare provisions. The developments in 'leave policies' have been of different timing as well as intensity and character. This has brought about a tremendous diversity in leave policy design around the world and created a vibrant research field (e.g.,

2011

2016

In a global economy, paternity leave policies represent one of the most significant expansions of the welfare state that seek to help fathers respond to socio-economic pressures on their work and families. Policy makers who strongly promote socio-economic equity may respond to these global changes with new policy formulae meant to encourage involvement of fathers in their families. Nevertheless, scholars have limited understanding of who benefits from paternity leave policies and what these benefits mean to families. The present study is a comparative analysis of paternity leave policies across forty-four countries. This paper first presents a typology of paternity leave policies. This typology consists of seven criteria that range from duration of benefits to amount of benefits to employment security. This typology is then applied to forty-four countries. The present study demonstrates that a surprisingly small number of countries are devoted to family equity