Aspects and advanteges of father's participation in paternity and parental leaves in Croatia and Europe

Cilj ovoga rada je dati pregled u aspekte i iskustva uključivanja očeva u rodiljne i roditeljske dopuste. U radu se razmatraju čimbenici koji potiču očeve da iskoriste pravo na dopuste te kako njihovo uključivanje doprinosi rodnoj ravnopravnosti, ravnopravnoj podjeli kućanskih poslova, povećanju udjela žena na tržištu rada i dobrobiti djeteta. Očev dopust i očeve kvote razmatraju se kao instrumenti obiteljske politike koji bi pridonijeli usklađivanju obiteljskih obaveza i plaćenog rada. Međutim, oni čine samo jedan aspekt poltike usklađivanja plaćenog rada i obiteljskih obaveza te se mnogi stručnjaci slažu da su upravo usluge namjenje obiteljima s djecom, poput programa jaslica i predškolskog odgoja, ključne za prevladavanje sukoba radne i obiteljske uloge te da omogućuju da oba roditelja participiraju na tržištu rada. Naposljetku, prepoznata je važnost očevih dopusta i kvota kao mjera koje mogu pridonijeti rodnoj ravnopravnosti i u privatnoj sferi.The goal of this paper is to give insights into aspects and experiences of father's participation in maternity and parental leaves. The paper is consedirenig factors which make fathers more likely to use their right and go on parental leave. Also the participation of fathers in leaves is contributing to gender equality, equal share of housework, increasing participation of women in labour market and child's well being. Paternity leave and father quotas are considered as instruments in filed of family policy that wolud help harmonise family life and paid work. However, they are only one aspect of balancing family life and paid work, and many experts agree on the fact that providing services to family with small children, such as institutional childcare, are the key of balancing both work and family life and participation of both parents on laobur market. All in all, paternity leaves and father quotas are recognized as measures which can contribute to geneder equality in private sphere