https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-more-new-dads-get-paternity-leave-companies-push-them-to-take-it-1531301401
What are your thoughts? Just had my first little one in May and am going on pat leave in August. Part of me is afraid taking the time off will hurt my chances for mid -year promotion in December.
Take the time with your little one... The career and job will always be there. when you look back 20 years from now you will remember the time you spent with your kids. not the "blimp" of a potential promotion delay of 6 months
I took 6 weeks off and didn’t care what anyone thought. Kinda lose respect for those that do. If there’s one place to stand firm to your values and hold the firm’s feet to the fire on theirs it’s here. Principled people are respected. Stand up!
get your priorities in order, man. You're a father now.
I agree there is a stigma and it will probably be applied to you and me (first time Dad last year). The key is to accept that and realize delaying a promotion a year or so is ok because your son or daughter is more important and that year will be more important to them than it will be to your career.
I took my paternity leave 14 months ago when my son was born and I already couldn’t tell you what I missed at work or what may have passed me by. But I can tell you a whole lot about those first few weeks getting to know my son and learning to be a part of a family with my wife. Granted my pat leave was only two weeks so it was a bit easier, but I would have taken any number of weeks no hesitation
One other thing. The damn Prime Minister of New Zealand just had a baby and shes taking six weeks off. So I personally would tell anyone who gives you a hard time about wanting to take the time to shove it
I had my first in early November 5.5 years ago. I took the two weeks off that I was entitled to, then worked light load from home given the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays + wind down of the engagement I was on. Got back on the road in March, but my head wasn’t in it. That negatively affected my promotion. I had saved up a bunch of PTO with the intent to use it after my wife went back to work, but I never did. In hindsight, it would have been better to have taken the PTO and come back ready to work in March. Take the max leave. If you don’t you could negatively impact your career like I did.
^^^Exactly.
Took leave and got promoted this year...I was also worried about that and it is a valid concern as not all partners think this way
Take it. I got a bit of a reaction from only one person (unfortunately tuanly the head of my practice) but everyone else was stoked for me and when I came back I was so much more motivated because I realize how awesome it was to have had the time. It ended up likely costing me an extra year till promotion because of the MD but I realigned to work with other MDs who are now excited and helping me figure out how to shift pto etc to make an even longer paternity leave for #2.
^^^ "blip" not blimp hahaha
^ could not have said it better
There’s a lot going on at that point and the focus should be family. Even if you were back at work it would still be the focus and would negatively impact the job.
Thanks all! I have planned on taking the full leave, just wanted to get feedback on potential career impact. I agree these moments are priceless and although I do think it's easier to say in hindsight when you're not the one going up for promotion, the fact that not one person so far said do not take the full leave is reassuring.
Who GAF? You're family is more important than getting promoted 6 months earlier
You can take the leave a little later if your wife has other help... buys you time after the promo date
I took six weeks of paternity leave last year, used my full allotment of PTO throughout the year, *and* dipped into some PTO that I had in the bank. I still received a promotion to senior architect. Take the time.
Take it.