"Time that never returns": Working fathers taking parental leave benefits in Bavaria

The popularity of the 'Elterngeld' the current parental allowance legislation in Germany is considerably growing among fathers. By means of a multiple-method research approach, the influence of employment on paternity leave is investigated through the example of Bavaria a federal state that has a particularly high rate of fathers taking parental leave. Contextual factors that might influence fathers' involvement at the district level are investigated based on aggregated regional data using linear regression. It shows that a low rate of unemployment, job opportunities for highly qualified workers and an equitable balance in the participation of women and men in working life correlate with a higher rate of paternity leave. Individual rationales for taking parental leave are reconstructed on the basis of problem-focused interviews with Bavarian fathers and couples during paternity leave. The analysis revealed that, besides financial considerations, the emotional attachment to working life is of great importance for the decision of fathers taking parental leave. Even though the high income level in Bavaria is not differently than previously assumed crucial for the extensive use of 'father months', the findings confirm the overall importance of employment and the income level of both parents for the fathers' decision on taking parental leave.