Doubling paid paternity leave in Singapore is a step in the right direction, but an even better thing that can be done is to bring forward the qualifying criteria.
As it is, fathers whose children are born from Jan 1, 2024, will be eligible to take on this additional two weeks of leave if their employers allow it. If I’m a calculative Singaporean, I may defer conceiving since they may arrive before 2024.
SUPPORTING PARENTS AS THEIR KIDS GROW
More importantly, why only facilitate father-child bonding for 2024 arrivals? Every family can benefit from this measure, even if their kids are slightly older.
A child’s journey isn’t like AppleCare where warranty liabilities cease after two years. Babies become children, and children become hormonal teens trying to make sense of their new selves. Parents become less energetic with age.
Every year brings about new challenges. My heart rate goes faster during the start of each schooling year with more Parents Gateway notifications than flyers from property agents.
And that is in the best case scenario. Kid emergencies and health scares can demand a parent’s full attention for a day, if not more. Focusing next on making childcare leave better would be helpful.
Let’s level that playing field and, in doing so, bring about better family relationships and all their associated benefits.
Adrian Tan is a former HR entrepreneur turned marketing strategist who writes about the future of work.