Skip to main content

Men & Paid Family Leave: Will Fathers' Days Off Ever Catch Up?

One gift that most fathers in the U.S. did not get on Father’s Day? Paid paternity or family leave. Read about the current state of paternity leave and find out where men, women and policies stand on caregiving.

New Dads: U.S. Lags in Paid Paternity Leave

When it comes to paid time off for new fathers, the U.S. is way behind. Out of 195 countries, we’re one of 92 without a national policy that allows dads to take paid time off work to care for their newborns. And only seven other countries have no national law that guarantees paid parental leave for either mothers or fathers.1 The Family Medical Leave Act just guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid leave for new parents — and that protection doesn’t apply to 41% of workers.2

Compare the lack of paternity leave in the U.S. with some of the world’s leaders:

  • Germany — up to 14 months with 65% of salary3
  • Finland — 8 paid weeks4
  • Sweden — 480 days at 80% of salary, split between parents, with 90 days reserved for dads4

What’s more, European fathers actually use their leave. In Sweden, 88% of dads took an average of 91 days of parental leave. And in Iceland, 96% of fathers took paid leave an average of 99 days.2

Nine out of 10 American dads do manage to squeeze in some time off following the birth of a child, even if it’s unpaid.2 But about seven-in-10 fathers who take paternity leave return to work within two weeks. In contrast — the median length of maternity leave was 11 weeks.5

Paternity Leave Isn’t a Luxury — It’s Essential

The birth of a child is one of life’s biggest milestones — and the first few weeks following birth are crucial for parent-baby bonding. Both moms and dads need that time to connect and build their new-parent skills, from diaper changes to sharing their baby’s first experiences.

Plus, dads who take parental leave are more likely to be involved in parenting for the long run. They also experience measurable benefits, ranging from better relationships with their partners to a healthier heart and longer life.2 And when dads take leave, their children tend to be healthier and their partners have less depression and higher earnings.6

Pressure and Commitment to Work

A study on “The New Dad” revealed that many men feel a “tug of commitment” that makes it hard to break away from work projects and deadlines to take time off with a new baby.7 In another survey, more people said that employers put greater pressure on fathers to return to work quickly than they do on mothers.5 Other key findings:

  • 59% of fathers say they wish they’d taken more time off from work following the birth or adoption of their child.5
  • A majority of Americans (71%) think it’s important for new babies to have equal time to bond with their mothers and their fathers.5

 

Graphic of 69% of Americans say fathers should receive paid leave following the birth or adoption of their child

 

Policies Are Changing — One State and One Employer at a Time

Overall, the research shows there’s still a big disconnect between public opinion, policies and personal choices. But some companies and states do have policies and legislation in place — or in the works — to provide paid protected time for new fathers.

Dads are also winning in court by speaking up. This case settled in May 2019 is a great example. One new father sued after his employer said that men aren’t primary caregivers. He won, and a class-action settlement followed. Now more companies are updating their policies to match federal law that requires equal paid parental leave for men and women.8

Transitions in Caregiving and Attitudes About Family Leave

An increasing number of infants live in homes where all parents are working — growing from just 20% in 1976 to 50% in 2016. That’s due to the long-term rise in U.S. women who work, especially among mothers.5

This shift means that caregiving responsibilities now extend to both women and men — although time spent caring for children is far from equal yet. Fathers now spend about seven hours a week, while moms spend 15. In contrast, women and men are almost equally likely to be providing care for older adults.5

Attitudes about paid leave are evolving, too, although significant differences remain based on factors such as gender, age and political values. For example, 78% of people who say that mothers and fathers do an equally good job caring for a new baby express support for paid paternity leave. And half say universal paid leave would have a very positive impact on men.

In general, people with more gender-balanced views on caregiving are far more supportive of both paid paternity leave and universal paid leave for men.5

Broader Support for Universal Paid Leave for Caregiving

Compared to paternity leave, there’s more agreement about the impact of universal paid leave for men: 88% of Americans say it would be at least somewhat positive. And 59% say men and women would do an equally good job caring for a family member with a serious health condition.5

What’s Next for Men, Women and Everyone?

Recently passed and proposed state and federal legislation is trending towards universal paid leave for caregiving, as well as paid sick leave. That makes increasing sense — based on workforce and generational trends. The need and desire to care for loved ones is universal and ongoing, from birth to our final years.

Watch This Space

Want to stay up-to-date? Subscribe   to our RSS feed for Relatively Speaking, our PFL-focused blog. At The Standard, we’re on board to help you stay current on the latest Paid Family Leave trends, legislation and programs.

Feeling social? Follow The Standard on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter with the hashtag #PaidFamilyLeave.

 


More About Demographic Groups

Learn how one group of workers — the Sandwich Generation — is balancing being a productive employee in the workplace with the challenges of caregiving for children and elderly family members at home.
Only 60% of employers offer family leave policies — often unpaid. A new study by The Standard and DMEC shows the impacts of caregiving on U.S. workers and the need for more flexible support. A recent webinar also offers solutions that go beyond leave.
Do paid family leave laws help women stay in the workforce? Yes! A recent study shows that PFL laws can dramatically lower the number of women who drop out of the workforce after having a baby. See the difference PFL makes.
Taking care of aging relatives is taking a growing toll on millions of Americans. Who’s paying the costs — in time, careers, incomes and productivity? See what's weighing workers and employers down. And what’s looking up.
Trying to keep track of all the legislative action on Paid Family Leave can make your head spin. Here's a one-stop guide to what’s happening now and what’s on the horizon for 2019. Plus, a look at how political power shifts could favor the push for Paid Family Leave.
Two-thirds of all employees would leave their job for better family/lifestyle benefits. From Millennials to Gen X, Boomers and even Gen Z — each generation values time off to care for family members. Explore what is driving Paid Family Leave to the top of employees' wish lists.
Jump back to top