There is a stigma attached to fathers who chose to take their full paternity leave, and one huge company believes it’s time for that to change. Dove is offering $5,000 to fathers who do not have parental leave at their jobs, and this is why.
Where The Problem Begins
Most fathers don’t have access to paid paternity leave during the first few weeks of their child’s life. These moments are considered to be the most precious, but dads are being forced to miss out due to work pressures. Some fathers can feel as though their jobs are under threat if they do take time off. Dove Men+Care is trying to combat that with their amazing offer to American fathers.
Dove’s Pledge
The cosmetics company has pledged $1 million to new fathers in America over the next two years. That money will come in the form of $5k to new dads planning to take full-time paternity leave. Currently, less than 1 in 5 men in the US are offered paid paternity leave, and the company wants that number to change. They believe working dads shouldn’t have to choose between spending time with their newborn children and taking a paycheck.
The Cost Of Having Kids
It’s no secret that children are expensive, and in situations where money is an object, fathers are having to choose work over their kids. As things stand, around 70% of new fathers will take 10 days or less paternity leave. Dove Men+Care are hoping their campaign will bring awareness to the need for dad to take time off to bond with their new children.
Big Support
Alex Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and partner of Serena Williams, said he realized just how important spending time with a newborn is for fathers. The recent father said no father should have to “sacrifice taking leave.” Ohanian said he went public with taking his paternity leave to show other fathers that it is possible to be successful in business and find time for your children.
Studies have shown newborn babies benefit from bonding with their fathers just as much as their mothers during the early stages of development. It is important for fathers to spend time with their young children and Dove is doing everything they can to encourage more dads to do just that.