Experts explained the growing popularity of the men's decree in Russia
Men's maternity leave in Russia is increasingly becoming a way to save family income after the birth of a child. Why fathers take parental leave, how it changes the labor market and affects family relationships — in the Izvestia article.
Reasons for choosing a men's decree
According to Ekaterina Katalina, a business psychologist and Candidate of Economics, the increase in the number of men going on maternity leave is an economic signal. Families have become more likely to choose the parent whose official income is higher to apply for benefits. Under the current rules for calculating payments, this strategy allows you to minimize the loss of the family budget and maintain the maximum level of cash receipts.
Catalina notes that this practice is changing the labor market in the long run. If a man's departure on such a vacation ceases to be an exception, employers will have to reconsider the attitude to family responsibilities of all employees, not just women. This may lead to an increase in demand for hybrid work formats and flexible schedules.
Impact on the labor market
The gradual distribution of the maternity burden between both parents reduces discriminatory risks for women. Employers are beginning to realize that a career pause due to the birth of a child can affect any employee, regardless of gender.
"This is especially important in conditions of personnel shortages, when it is more profitable for companies to retain experienced employees than to lose them due to family circumstances," said Catalina.
The introduction of the men's decree into common practice is also changing the internal structure of companies. Instead of perceiving such a situation as an unusual case, the business begins to use it as part of personnel planning, calculating in advance the options for temporary replacement or redistribution of tasks.
Personal transformation of the father
The founder of the Faculty of Psychology at Sri Sri University, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, emphasizes that a change in social role should not lead to a loss of male identity.
"Conflict in a couple arises only when one of the partners gets stuck in the feeling of "I have to be different." Where there is belonging to each other, there is no war for hierarchy," Shankar said.
The role of benefits in fertility
For a child, the key factor is not the gender role of the parent, but the quality of time spent with them. The psychologist notes that children read the state of calm and love, not which parent is at home.
"The child does not read, "dad is sitting at home — this is wrong." He reads: "Dad is near, calm, loves me." It is this quality of presence that forms attachment. It is not the role of the parent that determines the child, but the condition that the parent carries," Shankar stressed.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
