More Work-Life Balance for Dads (the Australian Scene)
November 13, 2008
Filed under Parenting & Family Posts
Following yesterday’s post about father-friendly workplaces (and Jonathan’s helpful info for U.S. Dads that under the Family Medical Leave Act Family Medical Leave Act there is provision for paternal leave with pay and job security), I did a little digging into Australian policy on the subject.
Because I’m Australian.
And ‘a little digging’ means squeezing in some googling and reading a couple of papers online between dinner, keeping the kids from each others’ throats and talking tax returns with Lady Ninja…
One report from the Work-Life Association here in Oz (dating back to May 2008) basically decried the fact that it’s only the occasional enlightened Aussie company that makes provision for new Dads to have paid leave to be home with newborn and their partner, or flexibility around their parenting commitments.
But it’s not common and it’s not backed by government.
Citing their research, they say
A consistent and strong theme among almost all of the responses that informed this submission is that respondents believed Australia should no longer be out of step with the majority of countries globally where paid parental and paternity leave is the norm.
Which means it is out of step. A Manager from one company responded
“Most fathers that I know have taken annual leave when their child is born. Some are entitled to unpaid parental leave, but don’t take it as the family would have no income for that period of time. The important thing to remember here is that the birth of a child is not a holiday. It is not a time that you have to relax, spend time at the beach, travel interstate or overseas. It is a time of hard work, lack of sleep, stress, joy, and exhaustion.”
Amen, brother.
So maybe what I was writing about yesterday is more a symptom from the country that I live in. I certainly sounds from Katy’s comment in yesterday’s post that in the States, Dads are embraced and expected to be a part of learning about parenting and doing the job. Or perhaps American readers will have other experiences with and perspectives on that.
Mind you, as I said yesterday, even in Australia, things are much much better these days than they were even five years ago.
I think Australia and the States are pretty close on the parental perspective. Men are still viewed as the second parent, and many men accommodate that role. It is pretty prevalent in the school. My school is so small that I know every kid and pretty much every mother of those kids, but I only know a few fathers. I know the fathers mainly through board positions or through our sports programs, I rarely see them in school.
I believe that there is an emerging shift towards a greater emphasis on fatherly involvement, much, much more than in previous generations.
Still… as I sat at the dentist office the other day and read through “Parenting” magazine, every article was written with mom as the audience. I believe the magazine out to be called “Mothering”.
I think we ought to start a true Parenting magazine that involves articles for mom and dad. What do you think?
I did some digging myself. The US grants up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for either parent, which is covered by FMLA. But, this only applies to government agencies, and businesses with over 50 employees.
Australia, allows up to 52 weeks of unpaid leave split between the spouses, whichever one is considered the primary caregiver at the time.
The most Father friendly nation is Sweden. All families are entitled to 18 months of PAID leave and to encourage fathers, a minimum of 3 months MUST be taken by the “minority” parent.
Here’s a good link to statistics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leave
Thanks Jonathan, that’s helpful info. In Australia my understanding is that the 52 weeks started out as maternity leave but is now broadened as you say to include Dads. Which is a step in the right direction, huh?
Maybe I move to Sveden, ya? [I wrote that in a Swedish accent but it probably didn't work did it?]
On the magazine front, I hear ya. But I think we’re doing it here along with dozens of other Dad blogs and online communities - and magazines cost a lot more to produce - and they’re more polished than I can be bothered with
… Seriusly there are mens mags out there that cover fatherhood topics: FQ magazine from the UK and interactivedadmagazine to name two (who I’m sure love this free advertising).
I’ve also written for two Aussie parenting magazines from a Dad perspective and it was very warmly received. Both mags are ones I consider pitched unintentionally at mothers however. And a walk past the family magazine racks of any store here in Australia would make me think that parenting is solely the domain of the ladies.
I hear ya and by the way, a Swedish accent actually comes off pretty well in type, but it is portrayed even better in the kitchen….. by muppets, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbs64GvGgPU