Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
More than ever, dads are stepping up as the lead parents in the household. What does this mean for parental leave? Paul Sullivan, founder of The Company of Dads, believes that we need to rethink how we message parental leave for non-birthing parents.
The Company of Dads is a community for fathers who are the lead caregivers in their household, and they also advocate for dads in the workplace. It’s no surprise that non-birthing parents tend to take less time off for parental leave, but according to Paul, this isn’t because it’s their preference.
“I'll argue that the reason they're taking 12.4 weeks and not 20 weeks is they don't feel supported by managers at work,” says Paul.
Many feared they'd fall behind professionally if they took their full leave, but Paul challenges managers to look beyond physical presence when it comes to performance.
“ I'm gonna be more present. And because I'm more present, you're gonna see me more. Am I the best person for that promotion? I don't know. But I shouldn't receive that promotion just because I'm there more often.”
To learn more about how the Company of Dads advocates for parents in the workplace, check out the full episode on #HelloMondayPodcast.
More than ever, dads are stepping up as the lead parents in the household. What does this mean for parental leave? Paul Sullivan, founder of The Company of Dads, believes that we need to rethink how we message parental leave for non-birthing parents.
The Company of Dads is a community for fathers who are the lead caregivers in their household, and they also advocate for dads in the workplace. It’s no surprise that non-birthing parents tend to take less time off for parental leave, but according to Paul, this isn’t because it’s their preference.
“I'll argue that the reason they're taking 12.4 weeks and not 20 weeks is they don't feel supported by managers at work,” says Paul.
Many feared they'd fall behind professionally if they took their full leave, but Paul challenges managers to look beyond physical presence when it comes to performance.
“ I'm gonna be more present. And because I'm more present, you're gonna see me more. Am I the best person for that promotion? I don't know. But I shouldn't receive that promotion just because I'm there more often.”
To learn more about how the Company of Dads advocates for parents in the workplace, check out the full episode on #HelloMondayPodcast.
