For me, bonding with Tom was immediate. The first hour of his life was spent poking at one another on a hospital bed in a hallway outside the overcrowded delivery room we had all just been evicted from. That was three months back, and since then the bond continues to grow, thanks mostly to adidas allowing me to be at home and not forcing me to make a choice between parenting and career.

Before Tom arrived, my wife Maria and I sat down to discuss what would happen when two becomes three. We agreed that even though childbirth had earned Maria a clear role at home, she was also at a critical point in her career and I wanted to enable her to choose between taking time out and continuing her role in the workplace.

This is not the norm, even in fairly progressive Germany where only one in three fathers decides to take parental leave, with over three quarters only taking the ‘minimum’ two months. I am one of very few men in adidas to take parental leave for a ‘longer’ period (in my case nine months).

Nursery lessons to take to the office

Before Tom, I had never changed a nappy, held a feeding bottle or dressed a wriggling baby. To me, raising a son is a brave new world. Maria read all the books (I looked at some of the pictures and a handful of YouTube videos). We had attended a half-day baby care class where we sat around on our knees with a bunch of other newly expecting parents, but besides this, I really wasn’t prepared.

Parental Leave_ Baby_Daddy_Kindergarten_
Learning as we go – Tom’s needs are challenging me in a whole new and exciting way.

I know Maria is a great mother and I hope she sees me as a great father. However, parental leave has done and will do more than just develop our parenting skills. It has taught us the value of collaboration, be it via sharpening communication skills in tense 2am debates about who shall be the first to try and break Tom’s ‘I won’t sleep now’ routine, or when negotiating how best to temporarily cover my role (thanks Catherine Blond and Steffi Kuhm).

Taking care of a baby is actually harder than I thought, especially because it doesn’t stop at 5pm. However, it does build confidence. Caring for a newborn is wonderful, awful, exhilarating, depressing and inspirational, but it is an experience that helps you become a stronger parent and a team mate. Skills I’ve gained through my parental leave are equally transferable to my people management responsibilities, making me feel more confident, efficient and creative.

Raising a baby is another experience that allows me to hone my existing skills and build confidence in my ability to adapt, be flexible, and meet new challenges.

Am I worried about returning?

Well, reactions to my decision about parental leave have been positive so far, but I have also heard gossip about me retiring or resigning from my position. I guess in some ways I am a guinea pig, but I’m really hopeful that a gradual change in attitudes towards parental leave will give more men at adidas and other companies the confidence to take it without fearing negative consequences.

More companies and teams are recognizing parental leave as a development path for fathers not a career inhibitor.

I would like to think beyond just legal protection and towards pushing the beneficial elements of taking parental leave. My decision has and will continue to fundamentally reshape me as a people manager, parent and spouse, and I believe it will contribute to the strengthening and resiliency of both my career and family.

Rather it should be seen for what it is – a development path for men and a necessary element enabling promotion of women into senior leadership roles who, without their men taking parental leave, may be forced to choose between parenting and career.

Tips for fathers on approaching parental leave with managers and teams:

  • Sell parental leave for what it is, a chance to broaden your skills and to exhibit confidence, collaboration and creativity.
  • Communicate early and regularly both upwards to your manager and downwards to your colleagues, especially if you have a team.
  • Get active support from your HR partner and the Works Council. They are there to help you.
  • Plan your temporary replacement well to ensure that your role is properly covered during your absence.

23 COMMENTS

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by Kirsten 21.09.2017
Great decision. My husband also stayed at home for 6 months and works 30 hours now. That had allowed me to climb the career ladder. Wish there were more men who decide to take a longer leave...
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by Will Hammond Kirsten 15.11.2017
Thanks for your support Kirsten! Very thankful that adidas is a forward-looking company that challenges the status quo and drives an equal opportunity workplace - not just in name!
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by Darrell 28.09.2017
Congratulations Will! Being a father is one of the best feelings in the world, and having a kid is the best reward you can get in life. I myself am a father of two - a 5-year old daughter and a son who will be a month old in a few days. Being a parent is not something you can log off of when the clock hits 5. It's a hands-on, 24/7 job without shortcuts and you can never ever slack off. There are no promotions or demotions, and resignation is not an option.

I agree with everything you pointed out here. Work-wise, it fosters trust in your people as you delegate tasks, which in turn helps them have bigger roles than their usual work. It helps shape them into better individuals as it promotes a sense of trust, responsibility and ownership.

One thing that really got me here was the length of parental leave you have. In my country, as a father, we are only allowed 7 straight days (not 7 working days, mind you), while mothers are allowed about 70+ days for maternity leave. I guess third world countries are not afforded such privileges.
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by Will Darrell 15.11.2017
Totally agree Darrell - it's not a break or time-off from work! ;)

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by great initiative 28.09.2017
First of all congratulations! Actions speak louder than words, very brave and concrete step to equality of women and men!
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by Will great initiative 15.11.2017
Quite simply - it's what adidas as a company stands for!
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by Katie Chong 28.09.2017
Thanks for the great article, Will. As a mother who recently returned from maternity leave, I absolutely agree that this time can serve as a career development opportunity rather than a career hindering move. I hope to see more fathers embrace the opportunity to spend time with their babies at such a critical time. You'll never get those first days back and we're lucky to work for a company that is supportive of employees taking the time to get acquainted with their little ones.
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by Will Katie Chong 15.11.2017
Totally agree Katie - sounds like you have some very interesting insights. Maybe you can share with us a bit more information about your story and how maternity/paternity leave developed you as a person and an employee?
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by Jochen Derrer 28.09.2017
I think it's great that you're taking parental leave. It will be a truly valuable experience that you'll never forget.
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by Will Jochen Derrer 15.11.2017
Thanks Jochen - it is definitely a valuable experience especially at 3.30 am! ;)
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by Senad 03.10.2017
Congrats Will! There is an excellent article in the Guardian: “Force men to take paternity leave. It will make the world a better place.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/10/want-better-dads-happier-mums-and-healthier-kids-make-men-take-paternity-leave
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by Will Hammond Senad 15.11.2017
Hi Senad - just read the article and couldn't agree more! However, not sure if should be mandatory - more fathers should want to do it, and act upon that impulse!
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by Agnes Mwagiru 03.10.2017
Well done! Kudos to you and Addidas for being a true example of what equal rights represents : equal choice for women and men.
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by Will Agnes Mwagiru 15.11.2017
Hi Agnes - with a big 'A' -sounds like you are outside the company. ;) Perhaps in general terms you can let us know where you are writing from and what kind of general improvements could be made in this area for all employers? adidas and me are always keen to learn from the experience of others!
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by Monika 04.10.2017
Tiptop Will :-)
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by Will Monika 15.11.2017
Thanks Monika - stay tuned!
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by David Turnbull 11.10.2017
A very inspiring article! I hope it provides inspiration and courage to both employees and management.
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by Will David Turnbull 15.11.2017
Hi David! Thanks for your comment. I hope so too. Arriving at equality for parental leave time is a key step to achieving gender equality overall!
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by Steven Torok 20.10.2017
Very interesting perspective, Will. I would agree that such an experience can provide multi-faceted benefits (personal, home and career). I think that for some people it would also help to invigorate their drive to be a difference maker and succeed in the work place given the their new above all responsibility at home.

Enjoy your time with Tom....
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by Will Steven Torok 15.11.2017
Thanks Steven! Balance makes certainly makes for better and more rounded workers!
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by Frank 21.11.2017
bold move, Will ! Congrats to acting as a role model
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by Will Frank 11.12.2017
Thanks Frank - will keep you posted!
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by Brian William 26.04.2021
Thank you for spreading your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your next write-ups.
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