"I couldn't wait to get back to work": these fathers against the extension of paternity leave

TESTIMONY

The news caused a stir this week: the government intends to extend paternity leave from 14 to 28 days from July 1, 2021. If this extension makes people happy, it should not change anything for some of the fathers: if 70% d 'among them take this leave, three in ten choose not to benefit from these two weeks to take care of their infant. 

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Only 50% of fathers on fixed-term contracts take their leave

First element invoked by these fathers: the professional situation.

The more precarious it is, the less leave is taken.

Only half of fathers on fixed-term contracts choose to benefit from these 14 days, the others fearing to displease their employer if they disappear for 15 days - and, ultimately, not to be renewed.

Conversely, 80% of fathers on permanent contracts take their paternity leave, a percentage which reaches 88% among civil servants.

Note that the proportion of fathers choosing to take this leave is greater for the first child and decreases for the following ones. 

Unnecessary leave for 13% of fathers

"Me, I have been a dad since August 12 of a little boy, a little Côme", Renaud testifies at the microphone of Europe 1. "I am just coming out of my paternity leave, I went back to work last week", he says, referring to "quite complicated nights, especially with the second."

Result: the young man says he was "eager to get back to work".

"I come back to Paris, I go to the hotel and I have nights which have become suitable for half the week."

And to conclude: "There are perhaps other examples of things to do in our country than adding 15 days of paternity leave."

If he still took his leave, others (13%) give it up not because of professional constraints, but because they consider it unnecessary.