The webinar titled 'Family Leave and What Unions Can Do About It. Lessons from Recent Reforms in Ireland' was presented by Dr Stephan Köppe, Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Social Policy, School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice, UCD. It took place on Wednesday 15 November 2023 at 15.30 as a Zoom webinar.
Find the presentation from the webinar here
Details of seminar:
Dr Stephan Köppe, UCD presented on his paper Ireland's Paternity Leave: Sluggish Benefit Take-up and Occupational Inequalities. Journal of Family Studies (early view). Subsequently, a discussion was open to the floor where the chairperson, Dr Tom McDonnell, NERI presented questions to Stephan.
Abstract:
Ireland used to be a laggard in implementing modern fatherhood policies compared to its European neighbours. In 2016, it was one of the last EU countries to introduce paid paternity leave and three years later parental leave. First, this presentation assesses paternity leave take-up comprehensively through four different rates based on administrative and aggregate data. Overall, take-up had been increasing initially, but levelled already after four years at the lower government target. This is puzzling as countries with similar reforms reported a constant increase and higher take-up over time. Second, drivers for the low take-up are discussed. Specifically, occupational and class inequalities are key factors as only 55 percent of the male workforce have access to occupational top-ups in addition to the relatively low statutory benefit. Without increasing benefit generosity, take-up will stabilize at the rather modest levels in comparison to other European welfare states. Finally, implications for unions are discussed and what the labour movement can do about it.
Biography of the presenter:
Dr Stephan Köppe is Assistant Professor at University College Dublin and fellow at the Geary Institute for Public Policy. His research is investigating the nexus of public and private welfare. This includes both the political economy of welfare market creation and analyses of inequalities resulting of these reforms. This includes policy studies on private pension, private schools, provision of long-term care or housing wealth. More recently, his research also included labour market reforms, leave policies and nonprofit organisations.