The connection between workplace culture and the division of parental leave
Kerr, Jasmine (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121435811
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121435811
Tiivistelmä
The parental leave in Finland was reformed significantly in August 2022, when the quota was made equal for both parents apart from the additional pregnancy leave that only concerned the birth giving party. After the changes made to the parental leave policy, both mother and father could stay home with their infant for around 6.5 months and take turns staying at home and going to work. However, 63 days of either parent’s quota are transferable, which could potentially decrease the equal division of parental leave.
This thesis aimed to evaluate the potential connection between workplace culture and the division of parental leave in Finland and whether a workplace could encourage the parents to split the leave equally and take full advantage of the new policy. The topic was approached through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodology by conducting a survey and interviews to parents that were expecting a child in December 2022. The respondents were contacted through a Facebook parents’ group, from which 112 responses were received followed by four interviews with volunteers amongst the survey respondents.
It turned out that organizational culture was not a strong driving factor behind parental leave divi-sions, and more important focus was put on parents’, especially mothers’, personal preference to stay home longer with the child, as well as financial reasons. Not many respondents recognized the con-nection between their perception of their workplace culture and how they had divided the leave, but the parental leave related reactions and atmosphere at work were generally seen as positive and en-couraging. However, something that was lacking from many of the respondents’ workplaces was clear communication regarding family-friendly policies such as reduced work time after parental leave.
In terms of the leave divisions, 61% of the respondents stated that the father had transferred the mother the maximum quota of 63 days. Thus, in many families it was still the mother that used the majority of the leave despite the opportunity to split it in half. The reform is still rather new and its effects yet to be seen in full volume, but what was discovered through this research was that more fa-thers were participating in the early childcare and equal parenthood was definitely on their agenda. However, for many mothers it was still a priority to take full advantage of parental leave and enjoy the unique time at home with their child.
This thesis aimed to evaluate the potential connection between workplace culture and the division of parental leave in Finland and whether a workplace could encourage the parents to split the leave equally and take full advantage of the new policy. The topic was approached through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methodology by conducting a survey and interviews to parents that were expecting a child in December 2022. The respondents were contacted through a Facebook parents’ group, from which 112 responses were received followed by four interviews with volunteers amongst the survey respondents.
It turned out that organizational culture was not a strong driving factor behind parental leave divi-sions, and more important focus was put on parents’, especially mothers’, personal preference to stay home longer with the child, as well as financial reasons. Not many respondents recognized the con-nection between their perception of their workplace culture and how they had divided the leave, but the parental leave related reactions and atmosphere at work were generally seen as positive and en-couraging. However, something that was lacking from many of the respondents’ workplaces was clear communication regarding family-friendly policies such as reduced work time after parental leave.
In terms of the leave divisions, 61% of the respondents stated that the father had transferred the mother the maximum quota of 63 days. Thus, in many families it was still the mother that used the majority of the leave despite the opportunity to split it in half. The reform is still rather new and its effects yet to be seen in full volume, but what was discovered through this research was that more fa-thers were participating in the early childcare and equal parenthood was definitely on their agenda. However, for many mothers it was still a priority to take full advantage of parental leave and enjoy the unique time at home with their child.