Name: Why paternity leave benefits everyone
Uploaded: 2021-10-18T14:51:51Z
Duration: 5 min 44 s
Description: Paternity leave has many benefits for dads, their partners and their babies -- but did you know it also has surprising benefits for companies? This is what author Shu Matsuo Post learned from his seven transformative months of paternity leave -- and he says it can create more equal and diverse workplaces and even boost productivity.

Paternity leave has many benefits for dads, their partners and their babies -- but did you know it also has surprising benefits for companies? This is what author Shu Matsuo Post learned from his seven transformative months of paternity leave -- and he says it can create more equal and diverse workplaces and even boost productivity.

Why paternity leave benefits everyone

Normalizing paternity leave transforms more than just family life. In Japan, although both parents are offered a year of paid leave, only seven percent of fathers took it in 2020, and most for less than two weeks. Longer leave deepens fathers’ bonds with their children, improves relationships, and allows partners to share responsibilities at home. Companies with inclusive leave policies see higher morale and productivity, while society as a whole moves closer to gender equality and greater life satisfaction.