Voices: There’s one simple way men can help improve workplaces for mothers

This summer, hundreds of U.K. dads took to the streets to protest with their children for better paid leave. They held signs saying things like, “The worst dad joke: two weeks paternity leave!”

Meanwhile, the United States is still the only developed country that does not offer any mandated paid leave for moms or dads.

When our child was born, my husband took one week off. He was given three days for parental leave (all of which were spent in the hospital) and then took another two days of PTO.

For Utah dads, this experience isn’t unique.

Research from Northwestern found that 64% of fathers took two weeks or less of paternity leave — for those who were even offered it.

When I surveyed my network to understand why men don’t take their leave, many cited fear of losing their job or lack of social support.

A few comments included:

These fears are rational. As Greg Rosalsky noted in an article for NPR, being afraid to take paternity leave is validated by research that shows how “the careers of many mothers have long taken a major hit.” (Just Google the “Motherhood Penalty.”)

But if we don’t believe moms should be penalized for taking their leave, then dads shouldn’t be afraid of taking their leave either.

Men who truly believe in equity will take their full parental leave — to set an example, to stand in solidarity and to enjoy the well-researched benefits of bonding.

This precedence is often best suited from the top — from executives who emphasize the value of parental leave and who set the example by taking it — but male leaders at every level can show their commitment to equality.

Taking your full leave is a way of signaling to decision makers that you value balance and family involvement for every employee, and that you will advocate for equity across identities.

In the U.K., the dads on strike protest has prompted a formal review of parental leave from the Ministry. Of course, when it comes to new government policy, we often have to wait and see. But it goes to show the impact male allies can make.

The best allies go one step further by parenting out loud at work, regardless of the season of life they’re in. They may clock out early for parent-teacher conferences. They may turn down networking invites that overlap with family dinner. They may speak openly about caregiving responsibilities for elderly parents.

Despite the U.S.’s bleak global standing in terms of parental leave, we’re seeing progress as men and women work together with some states creating policies to make up for the gap from the federal government.

In states like ours, where employees are dependent on their employers to offer inclusive benefits packages, men taking their full leave can make a big difference.

Rachel Cottam is a gender allyship speaker and marketing director who believes we need men and women working together to create gender equity. Rachel is currently completing her Master’s of Business Administration at the University of Cambridge.

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