They may be number one in their kids害羞草研究所� hearts, but a recent study suggests when men become fathers, they can earn a raise without having to be the top performer in the office.

Researchers at the University of British Columbia analyzed data from Statistic Canada害羞草研究所檚 latest workplace and employee survey and found that white men often receive a wage boost when they become fathers.

害羞草研究所淎lthough women typically experience a dip in earnings after becoming mothers, our study confirms the prevalence of the so-called 害羞草研究所榙addy bonus害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶖 the wage boost that men enjoy when they become fathers,害羞草研究所� lead researcher Sylvia Fuller said.

Employers are more likely to see fathers deserving of promotions and higher wages because of an unfair assumption that men are the breadwinners in their families, the study said, and therefore more likely to be hardworking and dependable.

害羞草研究所淥f course, that assumption isn害羞草研究所檛 always true,害羞草研究所� Fuller said.

Researchers focused on wage differences within workplaces as well, but had to limit their study to specifically white men because of wage gaps that exist among racial groups.

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The numbers suggest new fathers in professional or managerial roles enjoy the largest net wage boost within their workplace 害羞草研究所� about seven per cent 害羞草研究所� compared to a 3.6-per-cent wage boost offered to men in other occupations.

There was also a noticeable difference between 害羞草研究所渉ighly educated men害羞草研究所� and those with less than a high school diploma. Men with university degrees often received a 5.3-per-cent net wage premium, compared to a 1.8-per-cent boost for other fathers.

In cases where jobs involved a collective bargaining agreement, or in companies with a human resources department, the fatherhood wage premium was significantly lower.

And in cases where work performance was more closely scrutinized for merit pay, researchers found that the fatherhood wage boost was reduced or even reversed.

害羞草研究所淭he overall story seems to be that, when there害羞草研究所檚 more scrutiny and oversight of actual performance, the fatherhood advantage diminishes,害羞草研究所� Fuller said. 害羞草研究所淭his suggests that it害羞草研究所檚 not so much that dads are necessarily working harder, but that employers think they are.害羞草研究所�

Fuller said the findings should be cause for concern, especially for employers.

害羞草研究所淚t is discrimination on the basis of family status,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣ot everybody can or wants to have kids, but that shouldn害羞草研究所檛 affect wages. It is fundamentally unfair.害羞草研究所�

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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