The Rise of the Modern Working Dad
For a long time, Father’s Day in the workplace was little more than a polite nod to tie racks and novelty mugs. But today, the conversation around the working dad is finally getting more serious and more meaningful.
We’re seeing a shift. Not just in how we talk about work-life balance, but in how companies are starting to act on it. More organisations are offering enhanced paternity pay, promoting shared parental leave, and adopting flexible working policies that support dads in taking a more active role at home. Slowly but surely, the “provider” stereotype is giving way to something more balanced, where being a present, hands-on parent is seen as just as vital as being productive at your desk.
Paternity Leave: From Token Gesture to Genuine Support
In the UK, statutory paternity leave has long been two weeks and often unpaid or paid at a rate that barely touches most families’ actual cost of living. Unsurprisingly, many fathers haven’t taken it. But that’s beginning to change.
Some employers, particularly in progressive sectors, now offer enhanced paternity leave of up to 12 weeks or more, often fully paid. The message is clear: supporting new fathers isn’t just a nice perk, it’s good for families, for gender equality, and for business. When dads are encouraged to take real time off, it eases pressure on mums, supports bonding, and helps normalise shared caregiving from day one.
Flexibility Is (Finally) Not Just a “Mum Thing”
Another big shift is in the way flexible and remote work are being viewed. For years, flexible hours or working from home were seen as things “mums do”, often to the silent detriment of their career progression. But the pandemic upended that thinking. Now, flexibility is increasingly gender neutral.
Fathers are asking (and being granted) the freedom to structure their workdays around school runs, nursery pickups, or just being there for bedtime stories. The old stigma, that being a committed dad meant being less committed to your job, is finally being challenged.
The Culture Is Still Catching Up
Of course, it’s not all sorted. Shared parental leave uptake remains low. Some dads still feel they’ll be judged for taking time out. And workplace cultures don’t always back up the policies on paper. There’s still a long way to go in making support for working fathers the norm, not the exception.
But things are moving. There’s growing recognition that supporting the working dad is a key part of achieving workplace equality overall. It’s not just about “helping dads”, it’s about shifting outdated assumptions, promoting healthier families, and making the workplace more humane for everyone.
This Father’s Day, Let’s Acknowledge the Shift
So, this Father’s Day, let’s move beyond the clichés and acknowledge what’s really changing for the working dad, and what still needs to. Let’s celebrate the dads who are navigating nursery drop-offs between meetings, who are advocating for paternity rights, and who are shaping a new normal for the next generation.
Because the modern dad isn’t stuck in the office late, missing milestones. He’s asking different questions, making new choices, and helping redefine what work and fatherhood look like today.
As we celebrate the progress made for working fathers, with increased paternity pay and greater flexibility, it’s important to remember that parenting is a true team effort. Just as we highlighted in our article on the amazing juggle of working mums, supporting all parents in the workplace benefits everyone. Together, we can create environments where both mums and dads thrive professionally and personally. If you haven’t already, take a look at our piece celebrating working mums here.
Dovetail Recruitment are an independent Recruitment Agency in Bournemouth. Follow us to keep up to date with The South’s Job Market Report, Recruitment in Hampshire & Dorset + HR news, as well as our latest jobs, career tips + everything else related to your working world.
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