This podcast is about paternity leave and the choices dads face in the early days of being a new parent. Even when leave is available, taking the time off is not always an easy and straightforward decision. In conversations with new dads, we talk about the circumstances around paternity leave and balancing family and demands at work.
Sibu Kuruvilla struggled to make sense of California Paid Family Leave, his employer benefits, and the financial implications of using either. He also faced challenges in reintegrating into work. It was hard, but he'd do it all again to have dedicated time for family bonding as a new parent.
Hear from Tom Schneider, a CPA whose previous accounting firm expanded paternity leave to 6 weeks but had no practical implementation to support new dads. The result: one dad criticized from taking leave and another who took less than what was offered.
Eric Lockhart took all 10 days of leave offered when his first child was born, but complications for baby and mom, and a short stay in the NICU left him with only a few days to figure out how to manage his family life before returning to work. More often than not, new dads are expected to play "hero ball" and in any sport, that rarely works as a long term strategy.
What was supposed to be a joyous homecoming for baby girl turned into a medical emergency for her grandparent. Howard Locker, an attorney for the Department of Justice, shares his experience with taking one of life's curveballs and the ripple effects that it had on his plans for paternity leave.
It took some good luck by way of a "dream" C-section that made returning to work 48 hours later, without ever leaving the hospital, a possibility for Dr. Marc Korn.
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