Why more dads are embracing primary carer leave

The number of fathers taking primary carer leave is increasing as there has been a broader shift in how parenting responsibilities are perceived and shared across Australia.

A shifting mindset around traditional gender roles both at home and in the workplace has led to a significant increase in men embracing the opportunity to take primary carer leave.

A recent study by construction company Multiplex reported a “four-fold increase” in the number of men taking primary carer leave compared to figures from five years ago.

Specifically, Multiplex revealed that 34 men within their company took primary carer’s leave during the 2023–24 period, compared to just one male taking this leave in 2018–19.

Caitriona Comerford, Multiplex’s executive director of people, described the increase in the rate of male parental leave as “encouraging”, highlighting that it “reflects a positive shift in mindset” regarding men’s responsibilities at home.

“It shows us that men are viewing their responsibilities at home differently and that they feel able to make choices about how they share those responsibilities without it negatively impacting their careers,” Comerford said.

She remarked that fathers within the construction company often gain a deeper appreciation for the responsibilities of full-time caregiving when they take parental leave.

“Our dads tell us that when they take parental leave it gives them a better understanding of what’s involved in caring for kids full-time and the challenges faced in transitioning back to work.

“That means they can be advocates for colleagues taking parental leave and better support them when they do take that time away,” Comerford said.

The cultural shift in gender roles, both at home and in the workplace, is evident, with 2019–20 WGEA data revealing that men accounted for 6.5 per cent of individuals who took primary carer’s parental leave.

This figure has significantly improved, with Multiplex reporting that men represented 54 per cent of those taking primary carer’s parental leave during the 2023/24 WGEA reporting period.

Daniel Maloney, a project manager at Multiplex, is among the many men who have embraced the opportunity to take primary carer’s leave, having taken four months off to care for his daughter.

He candidly shared that he initially hesitated to take parental leave, influenced by the enduring stereotypes surrounding parental leave within the construction industry when he first entered the profession.

“Coming up from my early days in construction, there were still some stereotypes around taking parental leave in my head. As a project manager on West Side Place, one of our biggest projects in Victoria at the time, I was also concerned how it might impact the job,” Maloney said.

Maloney acknowledged that the workplace culture is evolving, with a growing acceptance of fathers taking time off to care for and spend time with their families.

“I definitely feel like it’s becoming more accepted and normal for men to not only take parental leave, but to be able to prioritise your family and be home when you need to as well,” Maloney said.