Championing Increased Male Participation in Childcare
Five Months of Childcare Leave —
The Struggles of Solo Parenting Become an Invaluable Asset
Medical Affairs Division
The Prompt to Take Childcare Leave
When we had our first daughter, I took care of the morning nursery run and the housework and childcare on weekends. However, I was so busy with work that I couldn't keep up with the pace of ever-changing family life, and I regretted that. When we were expecting our second child, my wife and I had a discussion, and she asked me to take childcare leave instead of her. This was the impetus for me to commit to my family and care for my second daughter for five months from when she was a six-month-old.
Main Concerns Prior to Taking Leave
My biggest concern was my career and what would happen after I returned from leave. How would my standing in the company change after five months away? And how would I cope with returning to work after taking all that time off?
However, in reality, five months is over in a blink of an eye, and I was able to return to work without any feeling of awkwardness, so in hindsight, there was never any reason to worry.
Around one year before I took leave, I told my boss and colleagues about my plans. They were a little surprised at first, but they wholeheartedly supported my decision, and as we had a year to prepare, the work handovers and changes in role assignments went very smoothly.
Handling the Household and Childcare with a Six-Month Old
I was solo parenting from when my second daughter was six months old, so I had to adjust my lifestyle completely. I couldn't take my eyes off her for a moment while making the milk and baby food, taking care of the housework, holding her in my arms for naps, and just trying to fit around the irregular schedule of a very young child. It was also difficult to plan out the day, and I struggled to take care of my oldest daughter at the same time.
Why You Should Consider Taking Childcare Leave
Having the opportunity to leave your job for an extended period to focus on raising your children is very rare, and I gained a lot of precious experience that would have been alien to me if I hadn't taken this chance. Discovering just how difficult it is to raise children and do housework alone was the most valuable asset.
As a result, I now have more opportunities to ask questions and receive advice from my colleagues who also have children. And because Otsuka Pharmaceutical encourages diverse ways of thinking, it was easy for me to return to work after the leave period ended.
One of the professors at the university hospital in charge of the program told me it was "wonderful" that I had taken the opportunity and that it reflected well on Otsuka and the company's stance on childcare.
Taking Childcare Leave Is One of Life’s Major Turning Points
Having a child is a significant turning point in your life and taking childcare leave gave me a chance to rethink my future career. It also changed the way I use my time. My mindset has switched to how to achieve results while managing my time, and I am now more focused on how to work efficiently and systematically. I want to be involved in management in the future, and if I reach such a position, I would like to be an approachable boss whose door is always open. I believe this experience will enable my colleagues and future junior staff members to feel they can come and consult with me about whatever is on their minds. This experience has motivated me to help create an environment where everyone can take a step forward on their chosen path. To that end, I have started working with WING — a voluntary study group born from the Diversity Promotion Project. I hope that by sharing my experience widely, I can help champion the success of a diverse workplace.