scholarly journals Attitudes about Paid Parental Leave: Cross-national comparisons and the significance of gendered expectations, family strains, and extant leave offerings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Knoester ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
Richard Petts
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Parenting Role ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Gendered Expectations ◽  
Levels Of Support

AbstractUsing data on paid parental leave preferences from 35,488 adults situated within 26 different OECD countries, and multilevel modeling, this study examines public opinions about the provision of paid parental leave, some government funding of leave offerings, and preferred lengths of leave offerings. We consider how attitudes may be similar or different across social contexts and then focus upon the extent to which gender, gendered parenting role attitudes, family strains, and country-level institutionalized leave offerings are associated with leave preferences. The findings indicate that the vast majority of respondents are in favor of rather widespread and generous paid parental leave offerings; indeed, there are generally high levels of support for paid leave availability, relatively long paid leave offerings, and government funding of leaves. Gendered expectations and family strains are consistently associated with individuals’ leave preferences—even after accounting for country-level social contexts. Country-level offerings are also associated with leave preferences-- yet we find that the overwhelming majority of respondents express a desire for paid parental leave length offerings that are substantially different than the extant leave offerings in their country. Overall, this research complements previous work by newly documenting widespread public support for the provision of paid leave and some government funding of it. Also, it establishes that gendered expectations, family strains, and country-level practices are consistently associated with paid parental leave preferences in wealthy countries. Yet, substantial dissatisfaction with extant paid leave policies within countries seems to be commonplace.

scholarly journals Attitudes about paid parental leave: Cross-national comparisons and the significance of gendered expectations, family strains, and extant leave offerings

2021 ◽  
pp. 002071522110267
Author(s):  
Chris Knoester ◽  
Qi Li ◽  
Richard J Petts
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Gendered Expectations ◽  
Levels Of Support

Using data on paid parental leave preferences from 35,488 adults situated within 26 different OECD countries, and multilevel modeling, this study examines public opinions about the provision of paid parental leave, some government funding of leave offerings, and preferred lengths of leave offerings. We consider how attitudes may be similar or different across social contexts and then focus upon the extent to which gender, gendered parenting role attitudes, family strains, and country-level institutionalized leave offerings are associated with leave preferences. The findings indicate that the vast majority of respondents are in favor of rather widespread and generous paid parental leave offerings; indeed, there are generally high levels of support for paid leave availability, relatively long paid leave offerings, and government funding of leaves. Gendered expectations and family strains are consistently associated with individuals’ leave preferences—even after accounting for country-level social contexts. Country-level offerings are also associated with leave preferences—yet, we find that the overwhelming majority of respondents express a desire for paid parental leave length offerings that are substantially different than the extant leave offerings in their country. Overall, this research complements previous work by newly documenting widespread public support for the provision of paid leave and some government funding of it. Also, it establishes that gendered expectations, family strains, and country-level practices are consistently associated with paid parental leave preferences in wealthy countries. Yet, substantial dissatisfaction with extant paid leave policies within countries seems to be commonplace.

scholarly journals Attitudes about Paid Parental Leave In the U.S.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Li ◽  
Chris Knoester ◽  
Richard Petts
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
Government Funding ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Common Support ◽  
Paid Labor ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
The U.S

Paid parental leave offerings in the U.S. are relatively rare and unequal. Yet, little is known about public opinions about paid leave and the factors that distinguish adults’ attitudes about them. With the use of data from the General Social Survey, we investigated attitudes about paid parental leave availability, preferred lengths of paid leave offerings, and government funding of leave in the U.S. We found overwhelming support for paid parental leave availability, an average preference for four months of paid leave offerings, and common support for at least some government funding for leaves. Older and more politically conservative individuals were consistently less supportive of paid parental leave availability, longer lengths of leave, and government funding of leave. Women, supporters of dual-earner expectations, black individuals, and those who were not working in paid labor were typically more supportive of generous paid parental leave offerings. These findings suggest that there have been longstanding desires for more widespread and generous paid parental leave offerings in the U.S. but that this has not yet been sufficient to prompt widely applicable policy changes across the nation.

Paid parental leave and fathers’ involvement: capturing fathers’ gender beliefs and fathering perceptions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa A. Streckenbach ◽  
Laura Castiglioni ◽  
Pia S. Schober
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Indirect Care ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Gender Traditionalism

This study examines how multidimensional gender and fathering beliefs of fathers may explain their relative involvement in childcare after considering paid leave uptake. We draw on cross-sectional survey data from one German state, which allow us to distinguish three belief dimensions: (1) gender traditionalism and essentialism, (2) fathering attitudes, and (3) fathering self-concepts and self-efficacy. By means of multiple linear regression models we investigate how the different dimensions of gender and fatherhood beliefs relate to fathers’ relative involvement in basic and indirect childcare tasks. Our results show that gender (essentialist) ideologies and fatherhood attitudes were strongly associated with fathers’ relative involvement in both childcare domains. The higher fathers perceived self-efficacy in fathering, the more involved they were in basic but not indirect care. All belief dimensions mediated the positive association of fathers’ uptake of paid leave with their involvement in basic childcare.

scholarly journals Paid Parental Leave Laws in the United States: Does Short-Duration Leave Affect Women's Labor-Force Attachment?

2016 ◽  
Vol 106 (5) ◽  
pp. 242-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya S. Byker
Keyword(s):  
Labor Force ◽  
Short Duration ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
The United States ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Women's Labor ◽  
Maternal Labor Supply ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Labor Force Attachment

I analyze the effects of short-duration paid parental leave on maternal labor supply. Using monthly longitudinal data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, my event-study research design estimates impacts of paid leave laws in California and New Jersey on women's labor-force outcomes around childbirth. I find that paid leave laws are associated with a substantial increase in labor-force attachment in the months directly around birth. While US-style short-duration leave is unlikely to change prolonged exits from the labor force, my findings imply that paid leave laws induce some women stay more attached to jobs, particularly low-skill women.

scholarly journals Cross-national Attitudes about Paid Parental Leave Offerings for Fathers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Li ◽  
Chris Knoester ◽  
Richard Petts
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
Multilevel Regression ◽  
Social Survey ◽  
Public Opinions ◽  
Separate Spheres ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
National Attitudes ◽  
Cross National

Using cross-national data from the 2012 International Social Survey Programme (N = 33,273), this study considers institutional, self-interest, and ideational factors in analyzing public opinions about the provision, length, and source of paid parental leave offerings for fathers. We find substantial support for generous leave offerings. Multilevel regression results reveal that being a woman, supporting dual-earning expectations, and realizing more family strains lead to support for more generous leave offerings. Endorsing separate spheres and intensive mothering attitudes reduces support for more generous leave offerings; although, gendered attitudes interact with one another in predicting leave preferences, too. Finally, country-level indicators of female empowerment and father-specific leave offerings are positively associated with preferences for more generous leave offerings. Overall, public opinions about fathers’ leave offerings across OECD countries largely support policies that provide opportunities for more involved fathering, but preferences continue to be gendered and linked to family strains and country-level contexts.

scholarly journals Parental Leave for Residents at Programs Affiliated With the Top 50 Medical Schools

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 472-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Gottenborg ◽  
Lindsay Rock ◽  
Alison Sheridan
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
Average Duration ◽  
Medical Schools ◽  
Medical Leave ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Family Medical Leave Act ◽  
Policies And Procedures ◽  
The Family ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Family Medical Leave

ABSTRACT Background Of the top 15 medical schools with affiliated graduate medical education (GME) programs, 8 offer paid parental leave, with an average duration of 6.6 weeks. It is not known how other GME programs approach parental leave. Objective We searched for the parental leave policies for residents in programs affiliated with the top 50 medical schools. Methods In 2019, we identified the top 50 medical schools designated by US News & World Report in the research and primary care categories (totaling 59 schools), and identified the associated GME programs. For each school, we accessed its website and searched for “GME Policies and Procedures” to find language related to maternity, paternity, or parental leave, or the Family Medical Leave Act. If unavailable, we e-mailed the GME office to identify the policy. Results Of 59 schools, 25 (42%) described paid parental leave policies with an average of 5.1 weeks paid leave; 11 of those (44%) offer ≤ 4 weeks paid parental leave. Twenty-five of 59 (42%) programs did not have paid parental leave, but 13 of these specify that residents can use sick or vacation time to pay for part of their parental leave. Finally, 13 of 59 (22%) offered state mandated partial paid leave. One school did not have any description of parental leave. Conclusions While paid parental leave for residents has been adopted by many of the GME programs affiliated with the top 50 medical schools, it is not yet a standard benefit offered to the majority of residents.

Comparing the availability of paid parental leave for same-sex and different-sex couples in 34 OECD countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETH WONG ◽  
JUDY JOU ◽  
AMY RAUB ◽  
JODY HEYMANN
Keyword(s):  
Parental Leave ◽  
Total Duration ◽  
Oecd Countries ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Male Couples ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Laws And Policies ◽  
Same Sex Parents

AbstractThe availability of paid family leave has been widely researched in the context of a two-parent household with one mother and one father, yet few studies have explored whether households with same-sex parents have access to equal benefits. Expanding on previous cross-country comparisons of parental leave policies, this study examines parental leave policies in 34 OECD countries to compare the total duration of paid parental leave available to same-sex and different-sex parent families within a country. We find that same-sex female and different-sex couples receive equal durations of leave in the majority of countries. However, same-sex male couples often receive shorter durations of paid parental leave compared to both different-sex and same-sex female couples. In addition to addressing the implications of laws and policies surrounding same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption on parental leave availability, we highlight specific aspects of paid leave policies that may explain the unequal durations of paid leave between same-sex and different-sex couples.

United States: leave policy, failure and potential

2019 ◽  
pp. 147-164
Author(s):  
Gayle Kaufman
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New York ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
State Level ◽  
Welfare Programs ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Unpaid Leave ◽  
Leave Policy ◽  
Paid Parental Leave

The United States is far behind other countries when it comes to paid leave for parents. While there have been efforts since the 1980s to introduce legislation, the current federal policy (Family and Medical Leave Act or FMLA) only offers 12 weeks of unpaid leave and only 59% of American workers are eligible for this leave; even among working adults who are eligible for FMLA, less than two-fifths can afford to take this unpaid leave. At the state level, California was a trailblazer in passing paid Family Leave in 2002, and New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York have followed suit. Recently, several companies have made news with their announcements about introducing and expanding paid Parental Leave. While a majority of Americans supports some kind of paid leave policy, the most recent legislation introduced at the federal level has nevertheless failed to pass. Some reasons include low relative importance, disagreement in policy implementation, concern over the impact on businesses, and an American value system that emphasizes individualism over welfare programs.

scholarly journals The Role of Collective Bargaining in Paid Parental Leave Policy in New Zealand?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Blumenfeld ◽  
Donatella Cavagnoli
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Collective Bargaining ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Parental Leave ◽  
Employment Protection ◽  
Paid Leave ◽  
Leave Policy ◽  
Paid Parental Leave ◽  
Industrialised Countries

Labour MP Sue Moroney’s Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months' Paid Leave) Amendment Bill to extend paid parental leave (PPL) to 26 weeks by 2014 was drawn from the Member's ballot in April and made it past its first reading in July, with all parties except National and Act indicating their support. One of the objectives of this bill, according to its sponsor, is to bring New Zealand in line with the rest of the industrialised world. In many industrialised countries, however, in the absence of any statutory entitlement, collective bargaining has played a crucial role both in determining PPL policies and in shaping legislative initiatives (Gregory and Milner 2009; Baird and Murray 2012). This article considers the role of collective bargaining in PPL policy in New Zealand.

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