How to Talk to Your Boss About Taking Paternity Leave

BDG/Shutterstock; GETTY IMAGES Taking paternity leave is one of the best things a new father can do. Among the many benefits, dads who take leave from work tend to be more confident in their parenting, build a better emotional bond with their child, and have a stronger relationship with their significant other. More generally, paternity leave allows men to experience some of the most fulfilling weeks of their lives. In short: If you have a baby on the way, you should take it. But you need to make plans to do it — which is easier in some work situations than others. To maintain your reputation as a team player and retain the management of your most favored projects, you want to let your boss know your needs well in advance. Even though you’re essentially “telling” your manager that you’ll be taking your rightful time off, it’s best to do so with tact and graciousness. “When you’re telling your manager about taking paternity leave, you want to try to do so in a way that doesn’t harm your employer, doesn’t create conflict with your boss, and most importantly, doesn’t create more stress for you at this pivotal point in your life,” says Liane Davey, author of The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back On Track . Here are five things to do before and during the conversation. 1. Learn Your Legal Rights, And Your Company’s Policy Before letting your manager know of your plans to take paternity leave, become fluent with your company’s policy. Get on…