Workplace Peers Effects in the Uptake of Solo Paternity Leave in Finland

Satu Helske , University of Turku
Jouni Helske, University of Turku
Milla Salin, University of Turku
Simon Chapman, University of Turku

In recent years, global family leave policies have evolved, moving towards gender-neutral and father-specific parental leave arrangements. Also in Finland, all previous policy reforms have extended parental leave entitlements for fathers. However, despite these progressive changes, fathers still underutilize their leave entitlements, opting for shorter leaves compared to mothers. In recent years, approximately 50 percent of employed fathers utilized their father's quota. This underutilization of paternal leave has prompted research into the factors shaping fathers' leave decisions. While previous studies have explored the impact of policy design and socio-economic factors, the influence of workplace peer effects on fathers' choices remains an underexplored area. Workplace peers can significantly influence workplace culture and social norms, which, in turn, may affect fathers' willingness to take parental leave. In our ongoing study, we seek to uncover the direct and cumulative total effects of workplace peer dynamics on Finnish fathers' parental leave uptake after the 2013 parental leave reform. Preliminary findings, using Bayesian logistic regression and structural causal models, suggest that workplace peer effects influenced Finnish fathers' decisions and the peer effects were cumulative in nature. By examining the interplay between peer influence and fathers' leave choices, we aim to provide insights that can guide policy adjustments and workplace interventions to promote improved work-life balance and gender equity within family and workplace.

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 Presented in Session 103. Parental Leave