Survey finds around half of men failing to take paternity leave
JUST under half of men are failing to take paternity leave when they become fathers, according to a survey by a recruitment firm.
The quarterly employment market monitor from Dublin recruitment firm Cpl Resources, which has offices in Belfast, said patterns in gender roles at home were slow to change in response to changes in the workforce.
Despite the tendency in recent years for women to work longer hours and in more senior positions, Cpl said that “career progression is slowed as the burden of caring — whether for children or other dependants — falls to women”.
It said in Northern Ireland and the Republic, 49% of men were failing to take their paternity leave, and of those who do, none had applied to extend that leave.
Cpl’s survey findings also suggested that companies were not “joining the dots” between gender quality and its impact on business.
Over 60% of business said that finding, hiring and retention of staff was the biggest obstacle facing business.
However, separate findings suggest that while 90% of women who leave work after having a child want to come back, only 40% of them are able to do so.
Aine Brolly, director at Cpl Resources, said: “There are a lot of women who have quit the professional world because they have been unable to balance the demands of a professional life, the costs of childcare and the juggles of caring for dependants.
“This untapped reserve of talent is potentially one of the best options for companies who are struggling to find staff.
“However, to do this, companies need to change their fundamental outlook and shake up their operating methods and structures. Otherwise women will find it too difficult and quit or refuse to return after they have their families.”
Meanwhile, findings in the Republic of Ireland from the survey suggest that one in five employers are considering a move outside Dublin due to rising costs.
One factor includes the rising cost of housing. While the average price of a property in Ireland is €255,000, in Dublin, the average rises to €364,998.
Grainne Barry, of sports data company Stats, said that cost was a factor in the US-headquarted firm choosing Limerick over Dublin as its EMEA headquarters.
“There were three main factors behind choosing Limerick — availability of talent, the size of the city, and from a cost perspective it is very attractive compared to Dublin,” Ms Barry said.