Widespread support for paid paternity leave

Over 85% of people believe fathers should be legally entitled to paternity leave to play a vital role in the care of newborn babies, a new survey revealed today.

The majority of those questioned believed men should be offered paternity leave stretching from one to six weeks – with around 60% stating all paternity leave should be paid.

A Nationwide Survey of Work-Life Balance found there was strong support for greater flexibility in the workplace to aid family life.

“A majority of respondents felt that if men worked part-time or job shared they would be seen as less serious about their careers, whereas a majority did not feel this way if women worked part-time or job shared,” Dr Margret Fine-Davis, a senior research fellow at Trinity College Dublin’s centre for gender and women’s studies, said.

“These kinds of attitudes need to be addressed if greater work-life balance for both men and women is to be attained," according to the authors.

In spite of this a large majority felt that men can be as likely to enjoy caring for children as women are.

Over 90% of those questioned as part of the Nationwide Survey of Work-Life Balance said there should be a national programme of child care facilities for pre-school aged children, as well as tax concessions for child care costs.

The study also found almost 70% of older workers favoured a phased retirement.

Around 42% of those surveyed said they would like to retire more gradually if pension entitlements were not affected.

The study from the National Flexi-Work Partnership/Work-Life Balance Project, involving Trinity College’s Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies and other organisations, warned Ireland’s ageing population and workforce would present major issues as increasing numbers of active older people will demand new social opportunities.

The project said innovative and inclusive practices need to be created to retain older workers in the workplace.

Another survey Mental Health and the Workplace, which was carried out as part of the project, found the highest rates of unemployment were among people with mental health difficulties.

Around one in 14 Irish people, or 300,000 suffer from depression, making it one of the most prevalent forms of mental illness in the country.

Many employees and potential employees fear that disclosing mental health difficulties will have negative consequences.

Around 73% of those surveyed said they felt people would think less of a person if they admit to suffering mental health problems.

With 80% saying it was not in their best interest to disclose those problems.

The study said company policies should be more explicit on what supports were available to employees and recommended awareness training for all staff.