Ten years after the Parental Postnatal Leave Act was published, only 0.23% of fathers in Chile had used this subsidy. Alonso Lucero was one of them. Why do so few fathers take parental postnatal leave? Does it make a difference to be at home with the baby during those first months? How do you take on the role of primary caregiver, a task that until then was exclusively the mother's responsibility? Alonso tells us part of his experience.
"When our daughter Violeta was born, we weren't sure if I would take parental leave, but I did know about it. I work in HR, so I understood the issue and I knew that there were some weeks that the mother could transfer to the father. But knowing this is one thing and doing it is another. When we made the decision, we had to start Googling, asking, calling, unfortunately there is a lot of misinformation and conflicting information between SUSESO, Isapres, etc. It was complex, to this day we are still fighting for a license.
At that time, my partner, Feña, worked remotely, her schedule was very flexible and she also had a low workload. It was in that particular context that we made the decision, because otherwise it would have been unfeasible. The reality is that the mother has to transfer her weeks and return to work, this after 4 and a half months with the baby, imagine what the detachment is for that baby or for that father who, due to going out to work, was more absent on a daily basis. I think the law is poorly made, it does not comply with what it should comply with, which is a shared upbringing between the mother and the father, an equality to be present from the beginning.
There is also the issue of income. In Chile there is a significant wage gap between men and women, and that is another big problem. If the father exceeds the taxable limit, and your company does not cover the leave, it is not economically convenient for many families to take this option either, because their family budget is greatly affected.
Fortunately, I was able to do it because of our particular context, and it was an unforgettable time. I work hybrid, so I was able to be at home since my daughter was born, but closing the computer and dedicating myself 100% to being a dad was wonderful. Seeing her discover the world, witnessing how she does something different every week, getting involved in everything, learning as a family, and also giving Feña space so she could have time for herself. It was an unforgettable time that I think makes a big difference for us as parents. But the most valuable thing was sharing it with the 3 of us , because there are 3 of us in the family."
