02. Parental leave dad talk

HAP is also proactive in encouraging male employees to take parental leave.
Dad employees who have taken childcare leave or postnatal paternity leave (childcare leave at birth)
We talked about parental leave.

MEMBER

Head Office, General Planning Headquarters, Airport Planning Department, Airport Planning Section
Mr. T

New Chitose Airport Office Sales Department Sales Section
Mr. Y

Head Office Airport Business Headquarters Terminal Department
Passenger Terminal Division U-san

Please tell us how you applied for parental leave.

Mr. Y

With my second child, I took "postpartum paternity leave," which is valid for the first eight weeks after the birth. Since it was four weeks long, I took two two-week breaks, one month apart.

Mr. T

This was my first child, and I took a month off, combining paternity leave and parental leave.

U-san

I took two months off for my second child. Even though I knew about the paternity leave system for men, I had never even considered taking it. That's when an executive who was looking after me at the time asked me if I wanted to take it.

Mr. T

I knew someone in the company who had taken it, so I thought I'd get it too, and it turned out to be Mr. U.

U-san

I was the first male employee to take parental leave. I'm glad I was able to set an example for everyone.

Mr. Y

My colleagues have also asked me, "Why don't you take parental leave?" It's easier to take parental leave when those around you are understanding.

How did you spend your maternity leave?

Mr. T

It was my first time raising a child, so all I remember is being completely absorbed in it, 24/7.

U-san

When you have your first child, everything is new to you, so you're feeling your way around everything.

Mr. T

At first, I had to prepare milk every three hours, even late at night, so I had trouble sleeping.

Mr. Y

Babies have no day or night, after all. I spent most of my time looking after my older child. I would take him to and from kindergarten, and take a break while my younger child was sleeping.

U-san

Like Ms. Y, I often took care of my older child. When I had my first child, I was busy with work and didn't have much time to look after him, so I was able to spend precious time with my newborn baby.

How did your wife react to you taking parental leave?

U-san

My wife also said she was very grateful for my husband's parental leave. I myself have come to understand how difficult child-rearing is, so I really felt how amazing mothers are.

Mr. T

My wife says that it's now essential for men to take parental leave (laughs). She said that single parenting is unthinkable. I would have thought it would be impossible if I were in the opposite position.

U-san

Isn't one month of parental leave not enough?

Mr. T

That's right. The first three months are the most difficult, so I thought it would be best to take that much time off.

Mr. Y

If it's your wife's first child, the physical exhaustion and fatigue she goes through is immeasurable, so it's important that we can help raise the child together during that time.

Mr. T

When I actually tried it, I got a real feel for how difficult it is, and taking care of a child really makes you feel like a parent.

Mr. Y

When we had our first child, I often worked remotely, so even though it wasn't parental leave, I was able to be with my wife every day. This time, I was also able to take two weeks of paternity leave after each childbirth, which my wife was very happy about.

How did you feel when you returned to work and how did people around you react?

U-san

I felt a bit blue, like after a long holiday (laughs), but I wasn't worried about work because I was in regular contact with my boss and colleagues.

Mr. T

I wasn't too worried either. However, I may have been checking emails in between childcare duties (laughs).

Mr. Y

Compared to the other two, my leave was only two weeks, and I was still in communication with my colleagues, so I wasn't worried about returning to work.

Mr. T

People around me have started asking me for advice about parental leave and childcare, and I can offer advice based on my own experience.

Mr. Y

As the first male employee to take parental leave, I'm sure you're often asked for advice, right?

U-san

People often say I'm the first one, but sadly, I wasn't consulted much (wry smile). Everyone followed suit after me, so I think that alone is a good thing.

How have you and those around you changed since taking parental leave?

Mr. T

I realized that it is important for men to know how difficult child-rearing is. If my husband experiences it firsthand, the atmosphere in the home will change, and the biggest benefit was that he now understands how difficult child-rearing is.

U-san

This inevitably means less time for myself and my spouse, but my children are my top priority.

Mr. Y

I think that if you take good care of your baby when he or she is a baby, you will come to understand that children are a lot of work, but they are also adorable. Taking parental leave allowed me to spend more time with my family, which further deepened our bond.

U-san

I agree. Those of us who were able to take parental leave had people who encouraged us and supported us in our work. I hope that next time I can be in their position.

Mr. T

That's a great comment, coming from the first HAP dad on parental leave (laughs).