• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits

3

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits

3

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
CommentaryFather's Day

Airbnb Co-Founder: Why Fathers Need Parental Leave Too

By
Nathan Blecharczyk
Nathan Blecharczyk
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Nathan Blecharczyk
Nathan Blecharczyk
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 18, 2017, 9:00 AM ET
Photo by Joe Pugliese for Fortune

A couple months ago I became a father for the second time—a boy; I also have a daughter who is two and a half. I’m still new to this, and I’m sure I have a lot to learn, but the experience has already changed me. In the process, I’ve learned that having children has made me into a better worker as well.

Being a father gave me a new purpose for existing. That newfound purpose has somehow given me the stamina and patience to take on the endless stream of challenges that come along with parenthood. Over the last couple of years, I’ve gotten to be the sole caretaker for my daughter on countless nights and weekends when my wife, a doctor, has been working. While far from easy, this time has given me a deep sense of satisfaction, and I believe my relationships with my wife and daughter have benefited.

I cannot deny that there are unavoidable, day-to-day tradeoffs between being a parent and a professional. There are only so many hours in a day. And yes, sometimes work needs to come first. There’s no perfect answer to these decisions, and it’s not my place to instruct others how to parent. That being said, I believe engaged parents positively impact the long-term well being of their employers.

The first reason is that while it may seem counterintuitive, having the responsibilities of parenthood can actually help you more effectively prioritize your time. While I spend less time overall working now than before, I find myself making better use of it. For example, I prioritize tasks more carefully, and I’m less likely to schedule meetings or write long emails when a quick conversation can suffice. More efficient workers are always in an employer’s best interest.

Second, when employees have the freedom to make choices that are best for them, balancing family and work, they can become their best selves. When the employer plays a role in helping employees achieve that goal, their employee’s loyalty will increase, and the culture of the company will benefit immensely. These days, a soul-sucking company is simply no longer sustainable.

I’ve seen this play out at Airbnb. In 2010, we interviewed Stan Kong for the position of controller in the finance department. We were a much smaller company back then, without an established parental leave policy. During his interview, Stan told us he would need time off when his son was born and some flexibility when he returned. I really admired his commitment to his family. His commitment to the company turned out to be no different.

For these reasons, I’m an advocate of providing more benefits to parents, including paid parental leave. At Airbnb we provide all U.S.-based new parents with 10 weeks of paid leave, as well as the ability to transition back to work with a four-day week for eight weeks thereafter. We are committed to exploring and expanding these benefits.

Of course, I’m well aware that I’m fortunate enough to be able to take this time off—a luxury that many parents cannot afford. But that’s why I think it’s incumbent on those of us in positions of leadership to create a supportive environment that empowers our employees. After all, parents best understand their own needs and can figure out the optimal balance that benefits all parties in the long run.

This Father’s Day, I’m calling upon corporate leaders to embrace paid paternity leave. This is not just an investment in our collective future, but also a benefit that leads to a strong workplace culture. Rather than perpetuating a race to the bottom, smart companies ought to do all they can to champion this long-term shift.

Nathan Blecharczyk is the co-founder and chief strategy officer at Airbnb.

About the Author
By Nathan Blecharczyk
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Commentary

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Commentary

Allison Danielsen is CEO, Tallo.
CommentaryCareers
My wrist injury derailed my college plans. It’s why I’m a CEO today
By Allison DanielsenMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
treble
CommentaryElections
I built a startup from scratch and still nearly died because of a broken healthcare system. That’s why I’m running for Congress
By Jonathan TrebleMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
bn
CommentaryEducation
Bill Nye: Companies say there’s a skills gap. They’re wrong — and students can prove it
By Bill NyeMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
soccer moms
CommentarySports
Why soccer moms are shaping the future of football in the U.S.
By Ruslan BashirovMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
Matt Rogers
Commentarystart-ups
I worked with Steve Jobs at Apple, where every OS update killed startups. AI founders are about to face the same thing
By Matt RogersMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
sam
CommentaryChips
The AI economy could crash on mounting chip costs — and those token costs won’t help
By Rakesh KumarMay 30, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
Personal Finance
I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
By Nick LichtenbergMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
Investing
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
By Shawn TullyMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
Environment
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
By Brian K. Sullivan and BloombergMay 31, 2026
20 hours ago
When loyalty is rewarded: Top earners who stay in their jobs get much larger pay increases than those who switch
Future of Work
When loyalty is rewarded: Top earners who stay in their jobs get much larger pay increases than those who switch
By Jacqueline MunisMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
Ex–Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns U.S. tech workers: Competing with China’s grueling 12-hour workdays means sacrificing work-life balance
Future of Work
Ex–Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns U.S. tech workers: Competing with China’s grueling 12-hour workdays means sacrificing work-life balance
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
Jamie Dimon tells Gen Z to 'learn how to think, learn how to earn respect' as he describes 'great meeting' with Zohran Mamdani
Success
Jamie Dimon tells Gen Z to 'learn how to think, learn how to earn respect' as he describes 'great meeting' with Zohran Mamdani
By Nick LichtenbergMay 29, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.