Paternity leave is among the three parental leaves, which grants an opportunity for employees to take care of their child. These parental leaves include paternity, maternity, and adoption leave. Such a leave may be paid or unpaid, but the employer has the right of determining these benefits as the employment law outlines. As such, “men should get paternity leave from work”. The debate of whether men should be given paternity leave has been there for a long period of time. Some organizations have maintained that men should not be given paternity leave. However, other organizations have gone ahead to give paternity leave to men as a way of motivating them. Various countries such as Canada, Finland and Germany have passed laws to ensure that men receive paternity leaves. The response has been positive since many men have now been able to take care of their new born children (Katherine, 1). Even though paternity leaves have not been there, men have always tried to have time with their new born children by taking sick leave. This research paper will find out whether paternity leave is important for men.
When both men and women get leave from their work, the organization incurs costs in that these employees may be paid. In addition, the organization may be required by circumstances to employ people to serve the positions of the people on leave. These employees may require training to serve the positions. If many men need to take their leave at a particular period, then it can be extremely difficult for such an organization to run its activities effectively. The role that men play during their leave is not very significant. Their roles can be replaced by the services of house maids. According to study carried out by various scholars, men idle around their homes during their leave. It is therefore true that leaves are not very necessary to men considering the fact that they play little role in taking care of their children during their leave.
Considering that many paternal leaves are not paid, those who oppose paternity leave argue that they are not necessary. When the men go for their paternity leave, a huge sum of the family income is lost. Men are the people who earn the highest salaries in most families. When the men go for their leave, they do not receive this salary and therefore the income of the family is greatly affected. In addition, the men engage in unnecessary spending when in their leave. Instead of going for their leave, men should employ house girls to ensure that the mother and the child are taken care of in order to save the family income (Phipps, 40). Some communities from Nigeria and Christian religion emphasize that men should provide for the family. Therefore they should stay in work so that they are able to support their families.
Regardless of the opposition of paternal leave, it has been proved important for various reasons. Even though paternal leaves are for various reasons, what facilitated paternal leave is the need for men to balance their work responsibilities and their parental responsibilities (Chris, 1). It is important to understand that men have a role to play in their families. Even though the men have many roles to play in their work environment, they still have other responsibilities to play in their families and therefore it is important that they are given an opportunity. They need to take care of the women who may not be able to do most of the activities at home after birth. It is also important that the family comes together after birth so that they can celebrate their newborn and create a greater bond between the family members. Even though this is a cost to the organization, it serves to motivate the employees since they feel cared and therefore work harder after the leave.
Studies have shown that the presence of men in the family contribute positively to the development of the children. The children grow emotionally, socially and physically due to the presence of their fathers. This has made various governments to put in place measures to ensure that men receive leave. The father motivates the children and therefore they have a good role model in their lives (Tosin, 2). The children are able to learn socialization skills from their father and these are very important in the lives of the children. Generally, study has shown that the presence of the father at home influences the success of the children.
Generally, it has been observed that the issue of paternity leave has created various arguments. The organizations are affected by the fact that absence from work means that the services of men will not be received. In addition, families are also affected in cases whereby the paternity leave is not paid for. On the other hand, it has been observed paternal leaves are very important for the growth and development of the children. In addition, the leave helps to improve the family bond. Generally, paternal leave is very important for both family members and the children.
Works cited
Tosin Omoniy, Should men go for paternity leave? 2012. Retrieved from http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/index.php/other-sections/home-front/159637-should-men-go-on-paternity-leave-
Chris Bowlby. Is the modern Dad really modern. BBC History magazine 2012. Retrieved from; http://www.historyextra.com/feature/%E2%80%98modern-dad%E2%80%99-really-modern
Katherine Marshal, Fathers use of paternal leave. Retrieved from; http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/2008106/article/10639-eng.htm
Moss, Peter and Margaret O’Brien (eds.). International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2006 (PDF). Employment Relations Research Series No. 57. Department of Trade and Industry. London, United Kingdom. 241 p. (accessed May 21, 2008).
Phipps, Shelley. 2006. “Working for Working Parents: The Evolution of Maternity and Parental Benefits in Canada” (PDF). IRPP Choices. Vol. 12, no. 2. May. Institute for Research on Public Policy. 40 p. (accessed May 21, 2008).
