48% Australian men took less than a month of parental leave due to lack of employer support: Report

Almost half of Australian men faced challenges accessing adequate time off when taking paid parental leave (PPL), primarily due to eligibility barriers and insufficient support from employers. 

The 2024 National Working Families Survey, conducted by Parents At Work and UNICEF Australia in collaboration with various organisations and independently analysed by Deloitte Access Economics, surveyed over 6,200 working parents and carers across Australia to examine evolving workplace dynamics. 

Key findings underscore the pressing need for improved access to paid leave for men in the workforce. The report highlights that 48% of men in Australia took less than one month of leave, with 45% expressing dissatisfaction with the duration of their parental leave. 

The majority of male respondents (51%) attributed their short parental leave days to ineligibility for extended PPL, while an additional 38% cited financial constraints as the primary reason, according to survey findings. 

The findings underscore a prevalent sentiment among respondents, with 48% expressing agreement that employers are less supportive of men taking time off for family responsibilities. 

The report reveals a perceived double standard, as employers are deemed more accepting of women utilising family-friendly options compared to men. Despite this, half of all respondents acknowledged feeling that their work commitment is scrutinised when utilising such arrangements. 

The report highlights how gender norms influence family-friendly policies in the workplace. "For men, the most common reason cited for taking too short a parental leave period was that they were not eligible for longer PPL based on their company policy.”

Organisations nationwide have been urged to provide paid parental leave benefits for men and to encourage their uptake, aiming for a more equitable distribution of household responsibilities between parents. 

Additionally, such policies can contribute to improved infant mortality rates, better health outcomes for mothers, and increased female labour force participation.