Paternity leave: Good for new dads, their families, and the workplace

Paternal instincts ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

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Deserving dads The news • In a class by itself. Paid family leave is granted by more than 180 countries, but the US isn't one of them—even though more than 70% of American adults support the policy. While the wealthiest countries allow an average of eight weeks of paid paternity leave, in 2016, only a small percentage of US employees held jobs that provided any paid leave for fathers. Despite the stigmas associated with paid family leave, it benefits new moms and dads. [NYT] • Paternity-leave hurdles. In the US, only 5% of dads take paternity leave lasting two weeks or longer. Some may not have the option: despite the nation’s wealth and the evidence of paternity leave’s benefits, no US federal law supports mandatory paid parental leave, although Congress is considering a proposal that includes four weeks of paid family leave. For others, concerns about not living up to the archetypal male role as breadwinner or being perceived as not being dedicated to the job factor into the decision. [CBS] While the challenge of getting men to take paternity leave is long-standing, the COVID-19 crisis has created fresh urgency for companies grappling with how to support employee well-being. Our insights • Why it matters. Taking paternity leave greatly benefits new dads and their families. Our interviews with 130 new fathers and their partners across ten countries revealed that men who took paternity leave overwhelmingly cited it as a positive experience, with 90% noting an improved relationship with their partner. Paternity leave strengthens relationship stability and helps increase a household’s financial well-being in the long term. • Fatigued fathers. The COVID-19 pandemic’s siege on mental health is real, with companies reporting that employees’ initial productivity sprints have given way to fatigue. Paternity leave can be a key part of higher satisfaction for fathers, who, in turn, make happier employees over the longer term. See our article for five benefits of paternity leave and what employers can do to support working fathers—including creating a work culture that encourages taking leave. — Edited by Emily Adeyanju    Strengthen families Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. Or send us feedback — we’d love to hear from you. Follow our thinking This email contains information about McKinsey’s research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. For more information on how we use and protect your information, please review our privacy policy. You received this email because you subscribed to the On Point newsletter. Manage subscriptions | Unsubscribe Copyright © 2021 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007