Advertorial | Paternity leave matters

When Marcus Golding took some time off from his position as an enterprise architect at National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited (NCB), it was to embrace a bigger role: being a dad. This wasn’t his first time trading office hours for midnight feedings. Five years earlier, Golding had used his vacation leave to share those first days of parenthood with his wife, Paige.

“Being a parent is a huge responsibility, so I’ve always given my all to being a hands-on dad,” said Golding. “With our second, I felt more grounded. I knew what to expect, and I made sure Paige and my sons got what they needed, like my presence, from day one.”

Golding’s wife, Paige, is a digital marketing specialist at NCB. Today, they are raising two boys – a lively five-year-old, Maik, and a giggly five-month-old, Mathias.

Welcoming the most recent addition to the family marked a new chapter for the Goldings. There were still cluster feeds and the occasional cereal-in-the-shoes moments, but this time, the couple had the gift of perspective and paternity leave. Golding wasn’t rushing between roles. Paternity leave gave him more time to just be ‘dad’.

FROM POLICY TO PERSONAL

NCB introduced its Paternity Leave Policy in 2021, a move Golding applauded. Even though his first child was born before it came into effect, the policy’s introduction left a lasting impression. “When companies make room for fathers to be present at home, it changes everything,” he said. “It tells us we don’t have to choose between work and family, and that we’re trusted to value both.”

Golding combined his three weeks’ vacation with paternity leave to give his family the support and presence they needed during their anticipated family transition. It was more than the excitement of bonding with the new baby. It was vital to be there for his wife, who needed space to rest and recover.

“I honestly don’t know how I would have made it without Marcus those first few weeks postpartum,” said Paige. “Especially because of my limited mobility from having a C-section. He made sure all three of us were taken care of, sacrificially giving of himself. He was my rock, steady support and true partner, there for every single appointment, late night feeding and diaper change.”

NCB implemented its Paternity Leave Policy in 2021, allowing eligible employees one-week paid leave per year for up to three births, including stillbirth or adoption. As the bank continues to review its suite of benefits offered to employees, NCB has since doubled the number of days available for paternity leave to eligible male employees to 10 days per year.

Golding says returning to work after his leave brought a renewed energy: “Taking paternity leave didn’t slow me down. It made me stronger. It gave me clarity about the kind of father, husband, and professional I want to be.”

Many fathers around the world still lack access to paternity leave. In 2023, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development data showed that fathers in member countries received an average of just over two weeks of paid leave, and uptake was often low.

Golding hopes more fathers will feel empowered to take the time they are offered and more companies will offer policies and actively encourage use.

“We’re building stronger families when fathers are supported to be present,” he said. “Companies have the power to make that the norm, not the exception.”