Increasing numbers of fathers now want access to paternity leave

LONDON: An increasing number of fathers crave further access to paternity leave, according to research.

Called “Helping Dads Care”, a new report from Dove Men+Care and Promundo – an organisation that promotes gender equality – has revealed that a growing number of men would like to be more involved in the early weeks and months after the birth of their child. However, these findings follow the news that 40% of men do not take paternity leave.

The global report, which surveyed initially in the US, found that most dads experience the desire to spend time with their children early on.

So much so, that almost two thirds of fathers (63 per cent) reported that they had quit or would consider quitting their job to be involved in the early weeks or months of caring for their child.

A similar percentage of men (62 per cent) also said they would consider taking a lower paid role. Despite this, the findings also revealed that many men fail to take paternity leave even when it is offered, with 38 per cent admitting to taking no time off following the birth of their child.

It found that this was largely because of negative perceptions in the workplace, with more than one in five fathers (22 per cent) stating that they were afraid of losing their job if they took the full amount of paternity leave offered. A global issue that affects men all over the world, the report says that despite fathers in Japan being allowed to take up to 52 weeks of leave at 60 per cent salary.