No, most men do not take paternity leave, especially extended leave, though this is slowly changing with better policies and cultural shifts; significant barriers like traditional gender roles (men as breadwinners), fear of stigma, lack of affordable options, and company culture still keep uptake low, even when men express a desire to take time off, notes this Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) article, this Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) article, and this AFR article. While some companies see high uptake with ringfenced, non-transferable leave, globally and in many places, only a small percentage of primary carer leave is taken by fathers.
What percentage of fathers take paid vs unpaid leave? Around 50% take paid leave in recent cohorts, while 13% opt for unpaid.
Government funded Parental Leave Pay
The Australian Government provides Parental Leave Pay (PLP) for working parents at the National Minimum Wage. Both the primary carer and their partner (including same sex partners) can access this payment if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Personal Identity: For some men, their identity and masculinity are tied to career success and providing financially. Taking parental leave can challenge these beliefs, leading to discomfort and uncertainty about their roles and priorities.
Paternity leave is beneficial for fathers, mothers and children. Having a father or second caregiver at home to care for a child allows the partner who gave birth to recover more quickly. It has also been shown that offering parental leave can aid in lowering child mortality rates by as much as 5%.
Paternity leave produces better outcomes for the child
Children who spend more time with their fathers have better outcomes, and this begins as early as birth. A Chinese study found that babies whose fathers were more involved in their lives experience greater cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills.
Paternity leave
You can take either 1 or 2 weeks' leave. If you choose to take 2 weeks, you can take them together or separately. You get the same amount of leave even if you have more than one child (for example, twins).
Half of mothers took paid parental leave in the 12 weeks after birth compared to a third of fathers. First-time fathers were more likely to take vacation leave (37%) than mothers (7%). Almost a third of mothers took unpaid parental leave, compared to 13% of fathers.
Of the 261 respondents, 240 were employed while their infants' mother was pregnant. Of employed fathers, 73% reported taking any leave (paid or unpaid). Among fathers taking leave, 53% reported at least some paid leave.
When men feel they are not meeting the social demands that define fathers, the idea of achieving other fatherly roles decreases and it may seem easier to leave. Other reasons for father absence can include imprisonment, infidelity, and abuse.
Among fathers who take paid leave, most take short durations—typically, one week or less. Thus, very few fathers – less than 5% of all fathers (and 14% of fathers who take leave) – take more than even two weeks of paternity leave.
Rate of payment
The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $189.62 a day before tax, or $948.10 per 5 day week. This is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.
Often, it's fear, fear of what colleagues or supervisors might think. According to surveys, 1 in 5 men worry that taking paternity leave could hurt their careers. And given the reactions many men still face, that concern isn't misplaced. This kind of outdated thinking still permeates many workplaces.
Sometimes the pregnant woman's husband or partner and the father of the child will not be the same person. In such cases both the partner or husband and the father may each have a right to time off for up to 2 appointments.
Here are some countries with the best paternity leave benefits:
Commonwealth Paid Parental Leave
It is a taxable payment so it may affect existing family assistance entitlements, child support arrangements and tax obligations. The former Dad and Partner Pay entitlement has been removed. The 2 weeks' pay for partners has been included in the new amount of 20 weeks.
"70/30 parenting" refers to a child custody arrangement where one parent has the child for about 70% of the time (the primary parent) and the other parent has them for 30% (often weekends and some mid-week time), creating a stable "home base" while allowing the non-primary parent significant, meaningful involvement, but it also requires strong communication and coordination to manage schedules, school events, and disagreements effectively.
Male Fertility Facts
Peak male fertility is around 25-29 years old. Sperm quality begins to decline at 30. At 45, men begin to experience a significant decrease in semen volume.
The 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for the first 15 days of recovery, emphasizing rest to help the new parent heal and bond with the baby, by spending 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, gradually increasing activity while prioritizing rest, nourishment, and self-care over chores or visitors. It's a framework for creating boundaries and slowing down to prevent overexertion, though individual recovery needs should guide the pace.
Some men may feel inadequate as fathers, particularly if they're not providing financially for their family, and thus won't take any parental leave. This is partly a result of the perpetuation of traditional notions of masculinity and what it means to be a father (e.g., the “breadwinner”).
Japan – 365 days. When it comes to paternity leave, leave laws in Japan are ahead of the curve, offering 12 months to new fathers––the longest paternity leave in the world. While many companies provide flexibility through shared parental leave, Japan offers one full year of paid parental leave exclusively for fathers.
Parental leave has numerous benefits for dads and partners: Studies have found that fathers who take time off of work after a new baby are able to better bond with their child, both immediately and over time.
Paternity leave is defined as a form of job leave that allows new fathers to take time away from work to care for their newborn child and their partner and participate in the early development of their child. The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) states that new fathers can take 12 weeks of unpaid paternity leave.
To take statutory paternity leave, the employee must tell their employer:
Can my birth partner stay overnight on the postnatal ward? Yes – after your baby has been born your birth partner can go with you to the postnatal ward and stay overnight to provide support if they wish.