APPLIED MICRO: Beyond Policy: Workplace Interventions to Promote Paternal Involvement; Professor Mari Tanaka (University of Tokyo)

Abstract

Paternity leave policies alone do not necessarily close gender gaps in unpaid work, particularly where workplace cultures discourage uptake. We conduct a randomized controlled trial with over 1,100 male employees in four organizations to evaluate two workplace interventions: work-life balance training for employees and managers, and information correcting misperceptions about colleagues’ attitudes toward paternity leave. Training significantly increased fathers’ weekend childcare time and spousal labor supply, especially among those with young children. Information provision reduced norm misperceptions but had limited behavioral impact. Our findings show that low-cost, employer-led interventions can complement policy by addressing cultural barriers to paternal engagement within the workplace.