Championing Dads at Work: Why Inclusive Policies Matter
November marks an important opportunity to reflect on how we’re supporting men — at home, in the workplace, and across society.
With Movember raising awareness around men’s health, and International Men’s Day (19th November) focusing on themes such as positive male role models, wellbeing, and stronger relationships, this is a crucial time for organisations to ask: Are we doing enough to support working dads?
Too often, the workplace conversation around parenting defaults to maternity, but the realities of modern family life demand a more inclusive approach. One that recognises the critical role dads play at home and the barriers they often face in stepping fully into that role.
According to the statistics:
- Men account for 75% of suicides in the UK.
- 45% of fathers experience tension when trying to balance work and family life, with 37% reporting that their mental health is negatively affected as a result
- Dads are less likely to request flexible working, despite legal entitlement — often due to cultural norms and fear of judgement.
- Half (53%) of new dads and partners entitled to paternity leave who request flexible working don’t get the flexibility they ask for
- And while most fathers take some time off when their child is born, only 2% take shared parental leave, 10 years after it was introduced, even when eligible.
This matters, not just for dads themselves, but for the broader goals of gender equality, family wellbeing, and retention of talent across every level of an organisation.
At Parent & Professional, we’ve always believed that truly family-friendly cultures must include dads, not just in policy wording, but in the way we shape everyday experiences, expectations, and leadership behaviours.
In two short, insightful podcast clips, we explore this with Sarah Wilson, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Hull. Sarah shares her perspective on what it means to support dads, both as a parent and as a senior leader shaping inclusive workplace culture.
Her reflections offer a compelling call to action for HR professionals and People Leaders ready to move beyond “tick-box” flexibility and towards cultures where all parents are able to thrive.
🎧 Podcast Clip 1: Modern Fatherhood — How Shared Support Fuels Career Success
Sarah reflects how her husband’s equal approach to parenting has shaped her ability to thrive in both her career and family life. A brilliant example of what shared responsibility and modern fatherhood can look like — and why male role models matter.
Listen to this clip🎧 Podcast Clip 2: Redefining Fatherhood at Work — How Inclusive Policies Empower Dads
What happens when men feel empowered to parent out loud? Sarah shares how the University of Hull reviewed its flexible working and family-friendly policies to make sure they support all parents — not just mothers. From inclusive language to high uptake of flexible working by dads, this clip explores how workplaces can truly champion parenting equality.
Listen to this clipWhy This Matters — Especially This Month
Too often, dads are left out of the conversation when it comes to wellbeing, parenting, or flexible working. Yet we know from experience that when men are encouraged and supported to parent proudly and equally, everyone benefits, from partners to children, from teams to wider workplace culture.
This Movember and International Men’s Day, it’s time to change the narrative.
At Parent & Professional, we believe:
✅ Supportive home partnerships are critical to gender equality and women’s career progression.
✅ Dads thrive in cultures that invite them to parent out loud — not just quietly behind the scenes.
✅ Inclusive, gender-neutral policies empower all parents to make choices that work for their families.
✅ Championing male role models who embrace family life helps dismantle outdated stereotypes and create more human, connected workplaces.
Explore our Sidley case study on supporting fathers, or get in touch to learn more about our coaching and consultancy programmes designed to embed support for working parents into the heart of your culture.
Family-friendly workplaces don’t just support women. They support families — and that includes dads.
Listen to Our Podcast on Championing Dads in the Workplace
Episode 12: Championing Male Wellbeing as Part of a Family-Friendly Culture
With Martha Desmond, Chief People Officer, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Listen now
Find Out How the University of Hull Is Creating a Culture That Works for All Parents
Episode 15: Different Worlds, Shared Values – Family-Friendly Cultures in Policing and Higher Education
With Sarah Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, University of Hull
Listen now