HR Glossary

What is Paternity Leave?

A period of job-protected leave granted to fathers or partners following the birth or adoption of a child, varying from zero statutory days in the US to several weeks in Scandinavian countries, increasingly recognized as essential for gender equity, child development, and employee retention.

Why it matters in hiring

Paternity Leave comes up whenever teams compare candidates, set policy or report on people data. Getting the definition right keeps decisions consistent, which is the same reason springhire scores every applicant against the same criteria rather than on impression.

Related terms starting with P

• P60
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Panel Interview
• Passive Candidate
• Pay Band
• Pay Equity
• Pay Equity Act (Canada)
• Pay Grade

Part of the springhire HR glossary, 1,150+ HR, payroll and recruiting terms defined. Free, no signup.