All entries tagged with “dads”

Are Employees Reaping the Benefits? Paternity Leave? P.T.O.?

Posted by Yasmin Parsloe on Monday Jun 16, 2014 4:17 pm

Father's Day has just passed and for many new dads, it means less time spent with Junior, and more time spent at a desk. The economic pressure of a child can leave households scrambling for financial support, sending one of the parents back to work sooner than later. A recent study reports that dads aren't taking the allotted time to meet their newborn for that reason. It goes beyond money, too. Some are now reporting that workplace stigma is partially to blame for fathers returning to work hastily. A new trend is arising though, steered by the forward-thinking, tech-companies of Silicon Valley - they're saying daddy days are just as important as maternity leave.

A study by Boston College’s Center for Work and Family reveals the economic repercussions of taking time off – even after child birth! The study finds 86 percent of male employees would not use paternity leave or parental leave unless they were paid at least 70 percent of their salaries.

The Family and Medical leave act allows US fathers to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave if they have been in their jobs for 12 months, however paid leave is at the discretion of employers.Even more surprising, just 14 percent of American employers offer paid leave for new dads - mainly new technology companies.

While working fathers say they want to take the full allotted time to be with their newborn and family, the majority say they would realistically take a maximum of two weeks off. Sixty-four percent of dads blame this on workplace stigma towards men and paternity leave. Boston College’s Center Executive Director, Brad Harrington, says “There is still the expectation in many minds that taking more than a week would not be appropriate.”

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