Leave and Let Leave: Workplace Peer Effects in Fathers’ Take-up of Parental Leave

Author: Alessandra Casarico (Bocconi University)Edoardo Di Porto (La Sapienza University of Rome)Joanna Kopinska (La Sapienza University of Rome)Salvatore Lattanzio (Bank of Italy)
Posted: 28 November 2025

Abstract

Using a reform that increased parental leave generosity, we estimate workplace peer effects in leave-taking, focusing on fathers. Coworker fathers are more likely to take leave when exposed to more peer fathers affected by the reform. Effects are stronger in establishments with higher social capital and pre-reform leave use. We explain our findings showing that incumbent coworkers drive the effects, same-gender peer influences exceed cross-gender ones, the strongest peer effects run from higher- to lower-ranked occupations, and career penalties are absent for peer fathers. Peer effects extend to coworker fathers' partners, less so to coworker mothers' partners.
JEL codes: J13, J16, J18, K31, M52
Keywords: Parental leave, peer effects, career costs, female labor market participation