Moving Fathers: Workplace Interventions for Paternal Involvement in Childcare

Author: Mari Tanaka (University of Tokyo)Hiroko Okudaira (Doshisha University)Mariko Sakka (University of Tsukuba)Shintaro Yamaguchi (University of Tokyo)
Posted: 17 September 2026

Abstract

We test whether employers can shift household allocation by targeting men as fathers. Among 1,225 male employees in four Japanese organizations, we randomized a two-hour work-life balance training and an information treatment correcting misperceptions of colleagues' support. Training increased fathers' weekend childcare by about one hour per day in young-child households and raised spouses' reported paid work; spouses' housework also fell. Training strengthened beliefs that paternity leave benefits workplace functioning but not leave intentions. Information modestly shifted perceived support but affected neither intentions nor information-seeking. Employer training can affect household allocation without changing formal rights or work arrangements.
JEL codes: J13, J16, J22, M54
Keywords: workplace intervention, paternity leave, household time allocation, second-order beliefs, field experiment