Are you considering taking paternity leave but are worried about how it will affect your career? Are you wondering if stereotypes related to the role of a father still hold true in today's world? Sometimes men face social pressures that can make them doubt their parenting rights. Fortunately, more and more fathers are deciding to break down these barriers and get involved in caring for their newborn.
In our article, you will learn how to deal with fears and stereotypes about paternity leave. We will look at the family model that has changed over the years and the legal regulations that guarantee protection for fathers from being dismissed from work. Thanks to the current regulations, fathers can devote this special time to their family without any worries.
Why is paternity leave controversial?
Paternity leave is 14 days off from work, which fathers can use in the first year of a child's life. Although the protection of a father from being fired from work during this time is regulated by law, many men still feel uncertain about social pressure i stereotypes regarding the role of the father.
In the traditional family model, the mother was seen as the primary caregiver, which could have caused fathers to decide less often to take parental leave. Today, however, the situation is changing – more and more men are taking advantage of this right, and regulations protect them from negative professional consequences.
If you want to learn more about paternity leave, its duration and legal regulations, be sure to read our article: Paternity leave: what should future parents know and prepare for?
Paternity leave and stereotypes and pressure: how to defend yourself against them?
We can still meet with stereotypical family model, in which the mother is seen as the child's primary caregiver, and the father focuses on his professional work. As a result, fathers may be concerned that the decision to take paternity or parental leave will be perceived in an unfavorable way by the employer or co-workers.
The partnership family model, in which both parents share household and parenting responsibilities, is becoming more and more accepted:
- CBOS research from 2020 show that 58% of Poles support this model, which means that society is increasingly accepting fathers' participation in childcare. [1]
- EU work-life balance directive, implemented in 2023, extended parental leave and reserved 9 weeks of leave for the other parent, which further enables fathers to be involved in family life. [2]
- ZUS data from 2023 indicate that the number of fathers taking these leaves is steadily increasing, reflecting a change in attitudes towards parenting. [4]
Studies show that the role of the father in caring for the child is gaining in importance, which can be seen in raising children. More and more fathers decide to actively participate in the lives of their children, which has an impact on breaking old stereotypes. An example of this is the growing number of fathers taking paternity and parental leave.
In 2023, 19 fathers took parental leave, which is a significant increase compared to 2022, when the number was 3,7. [4]
Professional life and paternity leave
Don't know how to start a conversation with your employer about paternity leave? It's worth preparing well for this. The key is a calm dialogue and the awareness that taking paternity leave is the father's right. What is more, labor law provides full protection for the father against dismissal from work. [3]
The many benefits of this arrangement, for both the child and the family, can help to alleviate any concerns. It is also important to remember that any decision a father makes to actively participate in the care of his child contributes to building balance in professional and private life.
