Cade Lucas
Working fathers in Melbourne’s west are finding it difficult to access parental leave and those who do, claim they are penalised by their employers as a result.
These are among the findings of The Working Dads: Towards Equal Care report conducted by GenWest in partnership with Preventing Violence Together (PVT).
The survey asked 155 fathers from across the western suburbs, including Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, open-ended questions about their experiences balancing work and care-giving responsibilities.
According to the report, more than half of respondents reported barriers in workplace culture preventing them from providing more care, ranging from men’s parental leave not being considered normal and the prevalence of a “job comes first mentality,” through to leave forms not even containing a box for fathers to tick.
Those fathers who did access parental leave said it affected their standing in the workplace including some being passed over for promotion.
GenWest gender-based violence team leader Nisha Gull‑e‑Nishat helped compile the working dads report and said both outcomes reinforced outdated gender norms around parenting affecting mothers too.
“This perpetuates inequality, as women often bear the brunt of caregiving, impacting their workforce participation and long-term economic security,” said Ms Gull‑e‑Nishat.
“Specifically, we want to see workplaces implement comprehensive strategies that go beyond policies and actively promote culture change through leadership role modelling.
“By normalising shared care-giving roles and encouraging flexible working arrangements for men, we can challenge gender stereotypes and create more equitable conditions for all parents. Ultimately, we aim for this to lead to better outcomes for women’s participation in the workforce, their financial security, and overall safety from violence. The report is also intended to inspire workplace leaders to take proactive steps toward fostering an inclusive environment where both men and women can balance work and care-giving effectively.”
The Working Dads: Towards Equal Care report will be launched in an online webinar on November 20, with GenWest chief executive Dale Wakefield and gender equality commissioner Dr Niki Vincent the featured speakers and City of Melbourne chief executive Alison Leighton, Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains and Our Watch’s Cameron McDonald participating in a panel discussion.
Details: genwest.org.au/news-and-events/working-dads-towards-equal-care/
