40% of men in Japan feel awkward at work after taking paternity leave

Around 40 percent of men in Japan feel awkward when they return to work after taking paternity leave, with many concerned about the increased burden on colleagues, a recent private-sector survey shows.Respondents urged companies to cover staffing shortages and provide benefits for co-workers so employees can take paternity leave without hesitation, according to the survey by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. of 550 married men with children up to 6 years old.Of the respondents, 33.4 percent took paternity leave for an average of 42 days. Of the 41.5 percent who felt uncomfortable upon their r…READ FULL ARTICLE