Men's interest in parental leave has increased extremely

Men's interest in parental leave has increased extremely

The average age for taking parental leave has shifted 7 years later. Men are also taking it as a sabbatical or career break, which companies also support.

Men's interest in taking parental leave has increased extremely. As shown by a survey by the SCHREIBER group, it represents an increase of 480% in Slovakia compared to the past. " Maternity and parental leave is experienced, understood and handled completely differently today than it was a few years ago," says Martin Miklánek, executive director of the SCHREIBER group, about the change. One of the reasons is that women have begun to assert themselves more in the highest positions in business, holding key managerial but ordinary job positions that were previously understood as as purely male roles. "The second factor is the solution of parental leave as a way of changing to a sabbatical style, a career break, or as a reason for a career change. Current trends and benefits of many companies also contribute to this and even greatly support men in their parental role. The increase in this benefit in companies is 40%," he points out.

"Burnout" also helped

The trend of the new and modern Europe is a clear orientation towards freedom of choice and direction, whether in the field of career or personal development. However, the numbers from the survey are surprising in many ways. As many as 68% of couples prefer the issue of career life and work success as a greater priority compared to motherhood. Even more, 77% of individuals, do not want to commit to a long-term partnership, including marriage, because of career success or. path. "For example, the age of going on parental leave has shifted 7 years later on average," adds Martin Miklánek.

The increase in men's interest in parental leave has also been largely contributed to by the pressure men face during their career journey. " Men still understand the role of being the head of the family, the main source of income, but also the leader in the company. However, many of them do not solve this comprehensively and rush into all areas 100%, and that is not always the best path. After a short time, fatigue, depression, or a feeling of burnout sets in," warns Martin Miklánek.

Combined with the expectations of others, pressure at work and the subsequent arrival of new parental responsibilities, it can therefore be tempting for them to reach for parental leave. " Many are trying to start a business, take on casual work, or start developing ideas that they "didn't have time for" while working," he adds.

What role does income play?

Until recently, such an opportunity was simply unimaginable in our country. However, many women are now intensely striving to establish themselves in their careers and in their fields of activity. "They have very high expectations from their professional and personal lives, and motherhood is just one goal on their list of responsibilities," says Martin Miklánek.

Income can also be a factor in the decision to some extent, especially if the woman has a higher income. " It is natural that couples can rationally agree on this. If the partner earns more, or has a job that she has been striving for for a long time, or a larger project is underway, we usually see agreements between both parties in this regard," he states .

However, as Martin Miklánek adds, men who take parental leave have also prepared very well for it, have "pre-stocked" themselves financially, or are entrepreneurs and continue to run the company during parental leave, only dropping operational duties . "However, according to their statements, it is often also a phase of "clearing their heads", thoughts, the direction of the company, or their own lives, which the arrival of the child has pleasantly "disrupted," " he notes. In fact, as the SCHREIBER group survey itself showed, up to 82% of women admitted that they were positively surprised that their men took better care of the child and the household than they expected.

What else do the results show?

• 68% of couples prefer the issue of career life and work success as a greater priority compared to motherhood

• 77% of individuals do not want to commit to a long-term partnership (or marriage) due to their career success/path

• The age of taking parental leave has shifted 7 years later on average

• 82% of women admitted that they were positively surprised that their men were able to handle childcare and household chores better than they expected.

Source: SCHREIBER group