Return after parental leave: fathers and mothers need better conditions!

Return after parental leave: fathers and mothers need better conditions!

Oberösterreich, Österreich - The current analysis of the re -entry monitor of the Chamber of Labor shows worrying trends regarding the use of parental leave in Austria. Accordingly, only around 20% of fathers go into a break from work to take care of their children. This is in a strong contrast to the 8,491 women who went on maternity leave in Upper Austria in 2021, while only 1,744 men took this step. This means that the fathers' share of the total volume of the maternity leave is only 17% The analysis also illustrates that the majority of fathers who go on maternity leave do so for a maximum of three months. Only 7% of fathers take a break between three and six months, while only 6% longer than six months in parental leave. Compared to the other federal states, Upper Austria lies in the use of fathers' leave in the rear third.

women not only bear the main burden of childcare, but also face larger challenges with regard to their career and pension. According to the return monitor, the return rate for women without a new child break was only 61%. However, a significant part of women, namely 80%, return to the profession for a parental leave in which the father goes for three to six months. This illustrates the positive influence of a partnership of childcare on the professional perspectives of women ots.at

AK President Andreas Stangl therefore demands better framework conditions for both parents during maternity leave. This includes suggestions such as the de-bureaucratization and flexibility of childcare allowance as well as a better crediting of child-rearing and nursing care times. In addition, an upgrading of women's work and an increase in the minimum damage replacement in the event of job loss due to parental discrimination is advised.

The desire for partnership division

A similar wish for a partnership of childcare is also evident in Germany. The "Father Report - Update 2021" of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs reports that in every sixth family, both parents share childcare equally. Over 42% of fathers in Germany take parental leave and receive parental allowance. In addition, 52% of fathers want to work less, while 45% of the fathers strive to make childcare more in partnership bmfsfj.de .

Before the Corona pandemic, fathers dealt with childcare on average 2.8 hours a day, while mothers spent 6.7 hours at the time. These figures increased significantly during the Lockdowns when fathers spent 5.3 hours and mothers 9.6 hours a day for care. The pandemy situation is therefore seen as an opportunity to promote a more sustainable distribution of family work.

Insights to participate in fathers

The introduction of parental allowance in Germany in 2007 was originally supposed to promote a more even distribution of childcare between fathers and mothers. Despite an increase in the proportion of fathers who use parental leave, it is often only the two partner months that they use. Over 90% of mothers, on the other hand, receive parental allowance at least ten months. Financial worries and the fear of negative professional consequences are often the reasons why fathers do not take a longer break Diw.de. . In summary, it can be said that both in Austria and Germany the potential for a partnership of childcare has not yet been fully exhausted. The challenges are in particular that the professional consequences of parental leave are often perceived as too high for fathers. With targeted political measures, however, an improvement in the situation could be achieved for both parents.