A new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Columbia University, and the University of Virginia, finds that more fathers are taking part in parental leave programs after the birth of a child. But very few fathers take advantage of the full parental leave that is available.
In California, new mothers and new fathers are eligible for six weeks of paid parental leave. But the study showed that men typically take a week or a week and a half while women were more likely to take the full six weeks of leave. The study also found that men typically took longer leave after having a son rather than a daughter. Men were also less likely to take parental leave when a majority of their co-workers were men.
The study, “Paid Family Leave, Fathers’ Leave-Taking, and Leave-Sharing in Dual-Earner Households,” was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. It may be downloaded by clicking here.