New ways to reconcile work, career, studies and family through support for fathers at MHH
Welcome to the pages of the third-party funded project!
In this two-and-a-half-year research project, funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Science and Culture, entitled “Support for fathers at MHH”, the topic of reconciling work, career, studies and family for fathers was analyzed so that positive company-supported framework conditions and a family-friendly working environment can be created to support MHH employees. The developed Best practice guidelines - information for fathers at MHH (german version only) may contribute to the fact that the perspectives and needs of “active fathers” can be taken into account.
“Active fatherhood“ requires acceptance by all superiors and colleagues, as well as within the partnership and family. A social rethinking requires time, but also the creation of verifiable standards for the implementation of a family-friendly corporate culture with the development of models and additional incentive systems. As part of this project, a concept was developed and implemented as a pilot project ‘Fathers’ support at MHH”. After evaluating this pilot phase, a recommendation for action to “Promote fathers at universities in Lower Saxony for a better work-life balance” (german version only) was developed, which we are publishing here.
The project was funded and supported by:
For decades, reconciling work and family life has been part of the repertoire of gender equality work at Hannover Medical School. However, the topic of reconciliation was and still is strongly linked to mothers. As part of a holistic gender equality strategy, a broader perspective is certainly needed: according to the latest research on active fatherhood, many fathers would like to be more involved in the care and upbringing of their children. According to the 2018 Father Report published by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), around 60 percent of fathers with children under the age of six would like more time with their family. In 2016, the proportion of fathers taking parental leave in Germany was 37 percent. However, the distribution of parental leave between mothers and fathers is still very uneven, since most fathers do not take a break for more than two months, whereas mothers usually stay at home for ten to twelve months. Financial disadvantages and professional consequences were cited as reasons (see DIW – Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung e.V. Wochenbericht 8/2019. P. 3).
The 2018 Father Report published by the BMFSFJ also shows that fathers who take parental leave with parental allowance months are more likely to work part-time for longer in order to have more time for their family as they grow into the active role of father. The children benefit from active role models of both genders, but so do the mothers, who get more resources for their own career development. By sharing the care work between partners, effects such as the gender pay or gender pension gap can be reduced almost as a by-product. Companies also benefit when they promote the increased family commitment of male employees through their family-friendly policies, because on the one hand, this enables mothers to work more, and on the other hand, it increases employee satisfaction and loyalty, reduces absenteeism and increases productivity (cf. Väterreport 2018, p.50f.). All managers and supervisors should have a particular interest in a family-friendly corporate culture, as they shape it significantly as creators, especially as role models, and benefit from it as users. (cf. Väterreport 2018, p.55)
The survey on the topic of “Fathers' support at MHH” was deemed necessary in order to identify and counteract structural disadvantages for fathers in the area of reconciling studies, work, career with family.
Therefore, in May 2021, an online survey was conducted among male* employees and students with children and the desire to have children to determine their actual needs and wishes regarding the topics of “parental leave, leave of absence, modern fathers and active fatherhood”. Based on the survey results, a suitable concept was developed and subsequently implemented as a pilot project. Only by working together can opportunities and potential be exploited and new ways of achieving compatibility found.
Thank you for participating in the survey!
If you have any suggestions and/or questions, please contact:
Equal Opportunities Office – OE0013, Andrea Klingebiel, Coordinator “Paternity Leave at MHH”
Until March 31, 2022, applications for “Fathers' sabbatical” and “Support allowance for studying fathers”
could be submitted to the former MHH Equal Opportunities Officer Nadine Nelle:
- Fathers' sabbatical for fathers employed at the MHH
who became fathers between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 and who have taken at least six months of parental leave within one year.
The funds must be used for measures that promote equality and support families.
The application form for paternity leave for fathers employed at MHH can be found here.
- Support allowance for fathers studying at MHH who
who became fathers in the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 and actively care for their children in their household.
The funds are for gender equality and family support measures and can be used, for example, for coaching for parents or to pay for a babysitter to care for children.
The application form for the support allowance for student fathers can be found here.
- Since the funds are limited, they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, i.e. according to the chronological order in which applications are received. The date stamp on the original application is decisive.
The project started on December 15, 2020 and funding by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture was extended beyond December 14, 2022 to June 14, 2023.
On February 15, 2021, the project advisory board was established.
The online survey of male employees and students was conducted from the end of April to 31 May 2021. After evaluating the survey, various support measures to improve compatibility are currently being implemented as part of a pilot phase. The Flyer "Father support at Hannover Medical School" contains a selection of project measures.
As part of the measures, a first networking meeting VÄFÖ for students and employees of the MHH on the topic “Fathers' support at the MHH - What can we (still) do better...?” with a keynote speech by Mr. Stühmeier (Head of Division I - Human Resources/Organization) took place on November 22, 2021. At a second networking meeting, the topic “Working time models in university medicine - a Gordian knot?” was presented and discussed by Prof. Lammert (Head of Patient Care) on March 21, 2022. On February 6, 2023, a third networking meeting took place with a keynote lecture “Leadership role and fatherhood” by Mr. Michael Avdeenko (Head of GB II) followed by a discussion (K11 - S0 - 3240).
Until March 31, 2022, applications for “Paternity Leave” could be submitted by fathers employed at the MHH and for “Support for Student Fathers” by active fathers studying at the MHH to the MHH's Equal Opportunities Officer, Nadine Nelle. Funding was provided until the end of 2022.
The VÄFÖ project “Väterförderung an der MHH” is one of the three finalists in the Impact of Diversity Award IOD 2022 in the category Diversity Dad Award. The digital award gala took place on May 5, 2022. We would like to thank all MHH employees and students for their votes.
As part of the VÄFÖ project, various events and coaching sessions were offered to male (m/d) students and employees of the MHH on the topics of “active fatherhood”, “fathers & compatibility”, compatibility of family & career“, communication in family & career”, role models”.
On March 28, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Mr. Nils Seiler (speaker) gave an online lecture followed by a discussion with the participants on the topic “Family Work and (Fair) Sharing of Mental Load.”
On May 6, 2022 from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m., Mr. Nils Seiler (parent coach - Berlin) conducted a workshop on the topic of role models “Super Dad!? Fathers between desire and reality” in the conference room at the MHH-Lounge (K6 - H0 -1215).
What challenges do active fathers face in their family, studies or workplace - especially where role models are questioned (e.g. longer parental leave or part-time work)? This compact workshop offered exchange, facts and helpful strategies for action.
On May 18, 2022 from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m., under the direction of Mr. Axel Hengst (mannigfaltig e.V. Hannover), an Escape Game “Where is Dad...?” in the conference room at the MHH-Lounge (K6 - H0 -1215) - a fathers' morning with puzzles around the topic of fathers' lives with Prof. Jens Dingemann (fathers' representative of the MHH).
On Friday, 24 June 2022 and Tuesday, 5 July 2022, 90-minute coaching sessions for male students at MHH (individual or couple coaching) were offered with Mr. Nils Seiler (father, lecturer and parent coach - Berlin) on the topic of “Balancing family and studies”.
On June 8, 2022, MHH's Father's Representative Prof. Dr. Jens Dingemann was invited by Ms. Daniela Behrens (Lower Saxony Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Equality) to discuss the effects of the pandemic from an equality policy perspective with other experts in the Leinesaal of the state parliament in Hanover. “Corona - and suddenly at home with kids and baggage! How can we achieve more relief from care work? How can we achieve a better division of labor in the private sphere?”
In the series of events “Fathers and Families after the Corona Pandemic,” Prof. Dr. Jens Dingemann was a guest on June 14, 2022 in his role as Father's Representative, speaking on the topic of “Active Fathering.” The online expert talks are funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Equality. You can find more information about the event and the series of events at the following Link.
On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 90-minute online individual coaching for MHH's employed fathers was conducted with Mr. Nils Seiler (father, lecturer and parent coach - Berlin) on the topic “Balancing family and career”.
On Thursday, November 24, 2022, the event “Pregnancy, Maternity Protection, Parental Leave - and then?” took place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for (expectant) fathers and mothers. The MHH Family Service, the MHH Human Resources Management, the Parental Allowance Office and the Family Service Office of the City of Hannover provided information on aspects of family phases, parental leave - parental allowance and parental allowance plus, childcare options at the MHH in Hannover and the surrounding area, as well as support options for families at the MHH.
On Friday, November 25, 2022, 90-minute online one-on-one coaching for MHH student fathers was offered with Mr. Nils Seiler (father, lecturer and parent coach - Berlin) on the topic of “Balancing family and studies” offered from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.).
On Wednesday, November 30, 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., Mr. Nils Seiler (parent coach - Berlin) conducted an online workshop on the topic of life balance “Fathers in Balance: Job/Study, Family & Time for Myself”. This compact workshop offered impulses, exchange and helpful strategies. The content included: How do other fathers manage the balancing act between family and work/study? How satisfied am I with the different areas of my life? How can I recharge my batteries and find relaxation in everyday life? This compact workshop offered impulses, exchange and helpful strategies.
On Wednesday, May 24, 2023, the Abschlussveranstaltung VÄFÖ (final event VÄFÖ) took place in lecture hall C (building J02 - level H0 - room 1170).
You can look forward to the new VÄFÖ Best Practice Guide (only german version) with information for fathers at the MHH on all aspects of the promotion of fathers. It contains checklists for employees and superiors on the topics of compatibility, parental leave and part-time work and shows the problems and wishes of students from the point of view of fathers. Best practice CVs show how individual compatibility issues are and that good framework conditions are important. Furthermore, it provides a brief overview of the pilot project “Promoting fathers at the MHH”: As part of the project, the wishes of employees and students were surveyed and analyzed, and creative solutions were developed and tested. The guide is rounded off by the wide range of childcare options at the MHH, from regular to emergency care.
Upcoming events can be found here.
