Work

How do firms respond to parental leave absences?

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: How do firms adjust their labor demand when a female employee takes temporary leave after childbirth? Using Austrian administrative data, we compare firms with and without a birth event and exploit policy reforms that significantly altered leave durations. We find that (i) firms adjust hiring, employment, and wages around leave periods, but these effects fade quickly; (ii) adjustments differ sharply by gender, reflecting strong gender segregation within firms; (iii) longer leave entitlements extend actual leave absences but have only short-term effects; and (iv) there is no impact on firm closure up to five years after birth.

Source: Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)

DOI: 10.5167/uzh-281866

Authors: Brenøe, Anne Ardila, Krenk, Urša, Steinhauer, Andreas, Zweimüller, Josef

Language: English

Topic: Work-Family Balance Challenges

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Gender equality

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W7124692033

FWCI:

Cites:

Cited by:

Related to: