Why low paternity leave take-up hurts your business—and everyone in it

A recent study by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) revealed a striking imbalance in parental leave uptake. The findings showed only 26% of eligible fathers took advantage of paternity leave in 2021, compared to 69% of eligible mothers.

While the numbers may not come as a surprise, the implications for businesses certainly should. Because when dads don’t take parental leave, the effects ripple far beyond the home—they reinforce workplace inequality, undermine long-term employee wellbeing, and damage your business’s ability to attract and retain top talent.

Why aren’t fathers taking leave?

Turns out there’s quite a few reasons for the disparity. For one, Ireland’s paternity benefit is paid at a flat rate—currently €274 per week. It should come as no surprise that this deters higher earners from taking time off, especially where no employer top-up is offered. The ESRI also notes that take-up is higher among men working in larger organisations, where backfilling a role is easier, and more cultural support for leave-taking exists.

But what’s even more telling is that the design of our parental leave policies still places the bulk of childcare on women. Paternity leave in Ireland stands at just two weeks, while maternity leave spans 26 paid weeks, with many mothers also taking unpaid extensions. This leads to a tradition of division of labour that then persists well beyond those early months—and a gender pay gap that begins after the birth of a child and can last a lifetime.

The long-term impact on gender equality and your business

From a business perspective, this has very real consequences. Women who shoulder most care responsibilities are likely to reduce their hours, change roles, or step back from career progression altogether.

This fuels a persistent gender pay gap—6.9% in Ireland as of the latest CSO data. Plus, it limits your talent pool at the leadership level. Employers who fail to address these structural issues risk reinforcing outdated gender roles, churning staff turnover, and falling behind on DEI initiatives.

Research from other OECD countries shows that when men take parental leave, they remain more actively involved in childcare in the long term. That, in turn, helps level the playing field for mothers returning to work. It also fosters stronger employee engagement and loyalty, particularly among millennial and Gen Z workers, who historically have prioritised work-life balance and fairer policies.

What’s more, offering enhanced paternity leave, (especially with an employer top-up), signals that your business values your staff who are becoming parents. And this is what can set you apart in a competitive hiring landscape, where candidates care deeply about family-friendly benefits.

What can my business do then?

You can play a key role in changing the culture around parental leave. Here’s how:

• Top-up paternity pay if you can afford to, equalling it to maternity benefits to achieve equality

• Make leave the norm by encouraging it and setting an example from senior leadership

• Ensure policies are fair and transparent, using a platform like BrightBase for easy-to-use, customisable, and compliant templates

• Support flexible returns by creating reboarding plans and ensure nobody is penalised for time away

Better workplace policies start with BrightHR

Low paternity leave uptake might seem like a private decision reserved for your employees—but its effects are far-reaching and can hurt your entire business.

Like most good moves in HR, your best starting point is fair, compliant, and transparent policies.

BrightBase, our comprehensive document library, let’s you browse, download, and use templates easily. It’s a time-saver, and avoids any need for hefty solicitor fees to ensure you’re getting everything right.

Book a free demo with our experts if you’d like to learn how our whole suite of tools can position your business for success. Or feel free to call us on 1800 279 841 if you’d like to chat about any of our products or services.