What’s going on:
According to The Wall Street Journal, the number of working parents taking parental leave is increasing annually; the 12-month period ending in February saw an average of 406,000 workers on paid or unpaid parental leave, which is a 13.5% hike from 2021.
Why it matters:
In the U.S., a workplace culture shift is beginning to take root, and fathers seem to be taking more of a lead.
Experts attribute the uptick to the pandemic, a surge in births, and an evolution in workplace attitudes and policies — particularly for men, as the six-month period ending in February showed a triple increase from the five-year average with 76,500 men taking leave.
How it’ll impact the future:
Despite the efforts of states and employers to provide better parental benefits, the U.S. falls woefully behind the majority of the world; 63% of countries guarantee paid parental leave for fathers, while America is one of only seven countries that don’t guarantee paid leave.
The trend of fathers and mothers seeking work-life balance through maternity and paternity leave has been on a dramatic rise, and more states and companies are recognizing this trend by providing expanded parental leave benefits.
