Redefining Fatherhood: The Evolution and Future of Paternity Leave in India

The move: In 2017, the Indian government extended maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. Paternity leave, however, was kept at a mere 15 days for government employees, and there was no mandatory provision in the private sector.

Imagine the plight of an employee who has to face this imbalance and is forced to use his annual leave to spend time with his newborn, thus highlighting the urgent need for more inclusive paternity leave policies in India.

Why Paternity Leave is Critical Today

Most of us stay in nuclear families nowadays, which makes it more difficult for new parents to manage their newborns specially in the absence of extended family members. In fact -

22% Of New Mothers In India Suffer From Postpartum Depression - WHO

In the absence of the father, new mothers bear the primary responsibility for childcare, household chores, and emotional support. This increased burden leads to feeling of overwhelm and exhaustion, contributing to or worsening symptoms of postpartum depression. Moreover, this adds on to the gender disparity in organizations. Women who take maternity leaves might not feel comfortable joining back after 26 weeks as they are aware of the needs of the new born child. For the child's cognitive and emotional growth, it is essential to break the traditional gender roles, and encourage fathers to share responsibility.

In this article, we will explore the current state, success stories, challenges, and future of paternity leave in India.

The Current Landscape of Paternity Leave in India

In India, the legal stand on paternity leave has been sparse and relatively underdeveloped as compared to most countries. At present, there is no national policy that compels paid time off for new fathers in the private sector. It only provides 15 days of paid paternity leave to male central government employees. Policies differ greatly from one organization to another and, many advocacy groups, along with a few lawmakers, have been urging the adoption of more solid paternity leave policies, although there has been little real legislation toward that.

Above, we can see a clear comparison of maternity versus paternity leaves around the world. India didn't even make the list. Why is this the case in India?

• Cultural Norms: Societal attitudes toward paternity leave in India are guided by traditional gender roles and expectations that identify women as the primary caregiver. In most cases, the traditional gender role belief has been that bulk caregiving responsibilities lie with women. This can create a stigma around men taking paternity leave, for it would be perceived as shirking responsibilities or not putting enough importance on work commitments. At times, negative views about career progression or further opportunities for men could result from taking paternity leave.
• Economic Constraints: SMEs are a big part of the economy of India, and they might feel more of a financial pinch to continue to pay workers while there are no apparent productivity additions. This will further dissuade them from having stringent paternity leave policies. Most Indian paternity leave policies are either unpaid or partially paid. These additional financial burdens could act as a disincentive for taking leave among fathers, especially in families where their salary is imperative for the fulfilling of basic needs.

Leading Indian Companies with Progressive Paternity Leave Policies

Several companies are setting benchmarks with their progressive paternity leave policies, recognizing the importance of supporting new fathers in balancing their professional and personal lives. Here are some leading examples:

• Shell: At my previous organization, Shell set a global standard in 2023 by rolling out a 8 weeks minimum standard for paternal leave to all non-birthing parents, regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation and marital status. As a proud employee, I can share that this news was highly appreciated and added another step toward making Shell a truly inclusive organization.

• BCCI: Remember Virat Kohli missed test series against England due to his son's birth? Well, he was on a paternity leave!

Speaking after the match, Virat, said, "We were not in the country. We were at a place where people weren't recognizing us. Just being together, the connection with the older kid too is amazing. I could not have been more grateful to God for the opportunity that I got to spend time with the family. It was amazing to be another person on the road."

Paternity leave concept is relatively new in India, in fact MS Dhoni was captaining India during the 2005 World Cup in Australia when his daughter Ziva was born. His wife has famously called Suresh Raina to deliver the news to Dhoni. But now, times are now changing. Many cricketers are taking time off to be part of the birthing moment of their child.

• Zomato: With a 26 weeks paid leave policy, Zomato set a new high by equalizing the maternity leaves and paternity leaves. Additionally, Zomato also decided to provide $1,000 per child as endowment to parents of a newborn child. The founder himself believes that young parents should be allowed to make a choice for their children. Having mother as the sole caretaker alienates one half of the workforce and ultimately adds on to having fewer female leaders in the organization and nation, as a whole.

"For women across the globe, we will be offering 26 weeks paid leave, or will follow the government mandated policy, whichever is more. We will be offering exactly the same benefits to men as well. There won't be even an iota of difference in parental leave policy for men and women at Zomato going forward," Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal said in a statement.

These success stories are thus opening a pathway to understand the need for paternity leave and setting examples to others in the industry. Their progressive policies not only go a long way in the betterment of the well-being of their employee but also in creating a more symmetrical and well-structured work environment.

Innovative Approaches and Future Prospects

Implementing mandatory paternity leave policies for all fathers, is the need of the hour. This will reduce the social stigma. Moreover, it should be ensured that the offered paternity leave is paid, such that families are not financially burdened. Flexibility should also be available to fathers, allowing them to either take leaves all at once or in blocks. It is imperative to ensure that job security is not compromised by allowing the employee to join at the same position without any penalties. For couples in the same organization, policies could be introduced where mothers can share a portion of their leaves with their partner to allow for valuable bonding time, if they choose to. With the increased usability of technology, remote work and flexible schedules, organizations can be further encouraged to adopt these progressive policies.

What can you do?

• As an employee - If you know someone who is back from a paternity leave - congratulate them, ask about their newborn and wife, and show your care. Being empathetic is the key.
• As a manager - Allow them to continue where they left off, do not exclude them from projects and try creating a collaborative work environment where they feel safe, non-penalized and can thrive!

With that, let's remember the words of James E. Faust: "The influence of a father upon his children cannot be measured."

Fathers shape our lives in ways that words can hardly express. Their guidance, love, and support create a foundation for who we become. Thank you, Dad RAJEEV TANEJA , for everything.

#PaternityLeave #Fatherhood #ParentalLeave #DadsInIndia #GenderEquality

References -

https://speciality.medicaldialogues.in/22-of-new-mothers-in-india-suffer-from-postpartum-depression-who

https://www.statista.com/chart/28974/parental-leave-for-mothers-and-fathers-global-comparison/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/paid-paternity-leave-in-the-united-states/

https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-news-editorials/paternity-leave/print_manually

https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/to-feel-normal-for-2-months-was-a-surreal-experience-virat-kohli-reflects-on-his-paternity-leave

https://www.humanresourcesonline.net/shell-extends-eight-weeks-paid-parental-leave-to-all-non-birthing-parents

https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/zomato-parental-leave-policy-paid-26-week-both-men-women-203498-2019-06-04#

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting/will-virat-kohlis-paternity-leave-pave-the-path-for-dads-to-be/articleshow/79284887.cms