Taking paid leave: the role of paid parental leave benefits in the alleviation of role overload of working mothers

This study examines ways to alleviate feelings of role overload experienced by working mothers in Canada through changes to the current paid parental leave policy. Although women have made great strides in labour market participation and career development since the 1970’s, they are still maintaining the majority of childcare and household care activities, leading to difficulties balancing their roles of parent and employee. Using mothers’ blog entries from parenting websites and a comparative case study analysis, this study argues that paid parental leave policies must encourage the equal contribution of fathers in childcare and household maintenance activities in order to reduce mothers’ feelings of stress. Currently, the Parental Benefits program provides a period of parental leave, which may be shared by both parents; however, only 10% of Canadian fathers take a paid leave of absence upon the birth or adoption of a child. Policy recommendation includes: providing a six month period of non-transferable paternity leave in addition to six months of non-transferable leave for mothers and six months of shared leave; increased financial support through a higher earnings replacement and higher weekly benefit minimum.