While welcoming a kid into their lives, both men and women are legally permitted time off work to care for their infant. It's a crucial time for the new parents to build an early bond with their bundle of joy.

Studies show that mental health during the child's early stages decides future attachment behavior, and child-parent bonding at this beginning period is a key factor in how the brain develops.
However, notwithstanding it being a lawful right, less than one out of three new dads take paternity leave. Family-friendly policies are planned to permit both the parents to play an essential job in caring for an infant, however for some new moms and fathers, holding their work can prove unreasonably expensive.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, took two months of paternity leave after the birth of his kid in 2015, and this leave kickstarted the discussion about parental leave policies and gender discrimination, across the country. From that point onwards, organizations have been reevaluating their parental befits (which traditionally simply incorporate maternity leave). And, as a developing group of research repeats that paid paternity leave is similarly significant for both the family and for working environment gender equality. But now organizations are beginning to offer new father paternity leaves, as well.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, took two months of paternity leave after the birth of his kid in 2015, and this leave kickstarted the discussion about parental leave policies and gender discrimination, across the country.

And, as a developing group of research repeats that paid paternity leave is similarly significant for both the family and for working environment gender equality. But now organizations are beginning to offer new dads paternity leave, as well.

“Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their newborns, outcomes are better for the children and families,” Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post.

A Brief About Paternity Leave

Paternity leave refers to fathers' rights to take as long as about fourteen days' unpaid leave within 56 days of the birth of their kid.

During paternity leave, fathers reserve the right to stay employed on their current terms and conditions, except that they don't require to be paid by their manager.

Fathers are entitled to a specific minimum weekly statutory paternity pay during these two weeks. The amount of which changes from year to year.

Depending on your workplace, paternity leave is paid time off, but other workplaces might offer it unpaid, which puts a burden on the worker to decide what a suitable amount of time off is.

Benefits of Paternity Leave

Paternity leave gives advantages to both fathers and their families the same.

As indicated by the research published by the OECD, UK fathers who take formal paternity leave are 25% bound to change nappies and 19% bound to take care of their 8-year-old infants when they wake up at night.

Also, this early bond proceeds beyond infancy. Fathers who take at least 10 or more days off are bound to be associated with childcare-related activities when their kids reach at three years of age. Children who formed close bonds with their parents during infancy likewise proceed to perform better in school and have improved cognitive scores and emotional wellness results.

Organizations benefit.

1. More than 2/3 of fathers (69%) affirmed they would change jobs to spend more time with their kids.
2. By far, most of the employers revealed (89%) that 'paid family leave had either a "positive outcome" or "no recognizable effect" on productivity. The equivalent was valid for performance/profitability(91%), turnover (96%) and employee morale (99%).
3. Moms might be bound to come back to their employers when leave policies are equitable. Research shows that moms additionally will, in general, come back to work more rapidly.
4. A robust working environment is vital to reap the organizational benefits of paternity leave. 72% of men said they would have taken longer parental leave if they had seen associates do as such. Just 26% of managers, internationally, urge men to take leave.

What is my organization’s policy?

There is no ideal information on what number of private companies cover paternity leave (on either a paid or unpaid premise). We do realize that around 16% of private organizations support paid paternity leave programs dependent on a 2010 benefits audit from the Society for Human Resource Management.

How Employees Can Claim Paternity Leave

As an employee, paternity leave and pay are guaranteed through your manager.

Claiming paternity leave for births

To make sure you get the leave you need and the right compensation, at least 15 weeks before the due date, you should tell your employer:

• The due date
• When you need the leave to begin (the day of the birth or after)
• Whether you need one or two week's leave

Leave can be claimed in writing by filing an SC3 form. You don't have to give birth proof.

How Can I Request Paternity Leave?

First of all, know your organization policy. If you don’t know whether the policy is encompassing paternity or parental leave at your company, look to your employee handbook or talk with an HR representative.

Depending upon the Paternity Leave Rules at your company, you might be required to give 30 days’ notice before you take leave. It is likewise possible that you may need additional time than is allocated. This is the reason it is fundamental to have the real factors about the leave you should take and what your boss will permit. You might have the option to negotiate for additional time or take sick/vacation off.

Depending upon the Paternity Leave Rules at your company, you might be required to give 30 days’ notice before you take leave. It is likewise possible that you may need additional time than is allocated. This is the reason it is fundamental to have the real factors about the leave you should take and what your boss will permit. You might have the option to negotiate for additional time or take sick/vacation off.

In any case, it is additionally possible that your request will be denied if your organization doesn’t have a policy set up, or on the off chance that you demand additional time than is for the most part permitted. This is the reason it is additionally critical to under your privileges under FMLA.

Paternal leave applicability in India

Even though the mother delivers the kid, the father plays a similarly significant role. A dad is required to be sincerely and genuinely accessible for both, mother and little bundle of joy, before, during or after delivery. In fact, legally accepting and giving two months of paternal leave has brought about a reduced divorce rate in Sweden.

In India, the Central Government in 1999 by notice under Central Civil Services (Leave) Rule 551 (A) made arrangements for paternity leave for a male Central Government employee (including a probationer and an apprentice) with under two surviving kids for a time of 15 days to deal with his better half and new delivered kid. He can profit this leave 15 days prior or within 6 months from the date of delivery of the baby. If such leave isn't benefited within the period, it will be treated as lapsed. For paternity leave, he will be paid leave pay equivalent to the pay last drawn before continuing on leave. Likewise, a similar guideline applies when a baby is adopted.

While paternity leave is authorized for government employees, there isn't any such law that instills the private sector to make it required. Henceforth, paternity leave is open to interpretation by individual organizations.

To wrap up Paternal leave mainly promotes gender equity in both the working and private circle. Parental leave policies can positively affect both the employers and employees as they help the workforce keep up a superior work-life balance. These leave policies likewise promote the organization as a more attractive and beneficial place to work, improving the retention during a period of continued demand for profoundly skilled talent.