When Academics Become Parents: An Overview of Family Leave Policies at Canadian Universities
Authors: Prentice, Susan; Pankratz, Curtis J.
Source: The Canadian Journal of Higher Education, Volume 33, Number 2, June 2003 , pp. 1-26(26)
Publisher: Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education
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Abstract:
When academic faculty become parents, how do their employers respond? This paper addresses that question through a review of family leave policies current in Canadian universities as of March 21, 2000. An analysis of pregnancy, parental, adoption, and partner (paternity) leave policies reveals that most Canadian university policies produce income loss and disruption and are discriminatory, characterized by gender regulation and familialism. We assess some normative criteria for improved family leave provisions, and propose that improving faculty family leave policies would benefit all academics. In particular, improved family leave has the potential to eliminate one dimension of systemic discrimination that creates chilly climates for female faculty. We predict that family leave issues are likely to emerge as significant concerns on Canadian campuses.French
Comment r agit l'employeur quand les professeures deviennent parents? Ce travail aborde cette question en examinant les politiques des cong s familiaux des universit s canadiennes en date du 21 mars 2000. Une analyse des politiques se rapportant aux cong s de maternit, parental, d'adoption et de paternit r v le que la plupart de celles-ci dans les universit s canadiennes causent une perte de revenu, des arr ts de travail et sont discriminatoires en raison du caract re touchant l'appartenance sexuelle et l'image de la famille traditionnelle. Nous valuons des crit res normatifs visant am liorer les cong s parentaux et proposons que le fait d'am liorer la politique se rapportant ces cong s sera b n fique pour tous les professeurs. Notamment, un cong familial am lior a le potentiel d' liminer une dimension de la discrimination syst mique qui produit un climat froid touchant les professeures. Nous pr disons que la question des cong s familiaux deviendra une pr occupation importante dans les campus canadiens.
Document Type: Research article
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