I am the lucky father of three girls. Before the birth of my youngest daughter, my hospital emailed to let me know that I was entitled to 3 weeks of paid parental leave. I was ecstatic. However, as I looked into it further, I found out that I was actually entitled to 12 weeks off! There was one small catch: 3 weeks were paid leave, and 9 weeks were unpaid leave. Not only was it unpaid time off, but I would have to pay the hospital for continuing some of my benefits during that time. My initial instinct was that I should just take the 3 weeks.
As the date of my daughter’s birth approached, I started to rethink my priorities. For me, time with my family was more important at my early- to mid-career stage than the 9 weeks of salary. Also, my wife and I had saved an emergency fund of 6 months of expenses that we could easily access. What better way to spend that money than to have bonding time with my new daughter and help my older daughters make the transition to being older sisters to our new arrival.
Understanding the benefits and laws surrounding paternity leave in the United States, particularly the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), is crucial. Moreover, having financial literacy and an emergency fund can make this transformative experience not just feasible, but enriching for families. In this blog post, I will explore the advantages of paternity leave, delve into the FMLA laws, and discuss how financial literacy plays a vital role in embracing this invaluable time off.
Paternity Leave Benefits
Bonding Time
Paternity leave allowed me to establish a strong emotional bond with my newborn daughter. Those initial months were invaluable for building connections that will last a lifetime. For my family with multiple children, the initial weeks involved a large change in family dynamics. Since my wonderful wife was very occupied with our newborn, I played a large role in helping my older daughters adjust to having a new member in the family, helping them embrace their new roles as older siblings, teachers, and helpers.
Support for Partners
My wife had some physical and emotional challenges after childbirth. During my paternity leave, I was able to support her and share many of the responsibilities that she was accustomed to doing. This allowed her to concentrate on our youngest daughter, helping the wellbeing of both my wife and my youngest daughter.
Time with Family
In our practice, it is very difficult to get a long period of contiguous time off. However, paternity leave offers this. During my leave, we were able to rent an Airbnb in Canada for 6 weeks. This allowed us to be very close to my dad and sister, which allowed for so much bonding time between my family and my daughters. It was the best part of the leave time. As members of a sandwich generation, my wife and I are caring for our children and our parents at the same time. It was great to be able to bring them together and spend an extended period of time together. A fantastic blog post titled “The Tail End” by Tim Urban and the Wait but Why team does a great job of explaining why such time is so precious! I highly recommend reading it.
Understanding FMLA Laws
The FMLA, enacted in 1993, enables eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child. Understanding these laws is crucial for fathers planning to take paternity leave.
Eligibility
FMLA applies to public agencies, public and private hospitals, and companies with 50 or more employees. To be eligible, an employee must have worked for the employer for at least 12 months and have completed at least 1,250 hours of service during the 12-month period preceding the leave.
Job Protection
One of the significant benefits of FMLA is the job protection it offers. Employees are entitled to return to their original or equivalent positions after the leave period, ensuring job security.
Health Insurance Continuation
During FMLA leave, employers must maintain the employee’s health benefits as if they were still working. During my leave, my hospital paid the employer contribution to the health plan premiums, and I was responsible for paying the employee portion of those premiums, as well as deductible and out-of-pocket costs.
Financial Independence and Emergency Fund
While the FMLA provides job protection, it is unpaid leave, which can pose financial challenges for unprepared families. Having an emergency fund can bridge this gap.
Peace of Mind
An emergency fund provides peace of mind, knowing that there’s a financial cushion to support the family during the paternity leave period.
Focus on Family
Financial stability allows fathers to focus entirely on their families—without the stress of immediate financial obligations. It empowers them to be present, both physically and emotionally, during this crucial time.
Future Planning
Financial independence encourages families to plan for the future. It ensures that the leave period doesn’t impact long-term financial goals, providing a sense of security for the entire family.
I am very lucky to work with amazing, supportive colleagues. When I proposed taking paternity leave, even though no one had done it before, I was met with support from my department, hospital, and colleagues. Another unique benefit to my leave? I was able to take it intermittently during the first year of my daughter’s life. This flexibility allowed me to work when we had visiting family in town, who could help, then take leave when it was just my wife and me. However, the present FMLA law does not require such accommodation, so this is likely employer-dependent. Now, I talk to all fathers who are expecting new babies about establishing an emergency fund, pointing out the benefits of more paternal leave. Anecdotally, this seems to be gaining traction among physicians. I know two recent father doctors who are taking their full allotment of paternity leave, as well as another father who is strongly considering taking some unpaid leave.
I believe that paternity leave (supported by laws like FMLA) is not just a break from work; it’s an investment in your family and the future. Understanding these laws and ensuring financial stability through an emergency fund can transform this period into a beautiful and enriching experience for fathers, mothers, and children alike. By embracing paternity leave and advocating for supportive policies, we contribute to the creation of healthier, happier families and a more balanced society.
Sherwin Chan, MD, PhD
Professor of Radiology, University of Missouri at Kansas City
Vice Chair of Research, Children’s Mercy Kansas City
The opinions expressed on RadTeams are those of the author(s); they do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint or position of the editors, reviewers, or publisher.