Conference MOTHERS and FATHER WELCOME 2024 - Parents at Work

This year's conference will open the topic of shortening parental leave in the Czech Republic. The shortening of parental leave is a topic that provokes a great societal debate, both for its supporters and opponents. We want to look at the facts and the positive benefits to the economy and the Czech labor market without strained emotions, and also look at the opinion of the parents and employers themselves.

In the introductory part, we will present experiences with parental leave from Sweden. The Swedish practice is very interesting in this regard, because it systematically supports shared parenting, i.e. mothers and fathers on parental leave. This corresponds to the sufficient amount of the financial contribution for both parents during the leave, including support for further career and professional development. We will debate the possibilities of how we could transfer the experience of Swedish practice to Czech environment and what the financial model of supporting parents during parental leave could look like.

We will also focus on the existing practice of companies, many of which already have policies in place to support parents, especially mothers, including their earlier return to work. We will look at what support the state offers and how it can support employers. We want to deepen the dialogue between the state and responsible employers in the framework of supporting parents at work.

• Why does the Czech Republic continue to maintain the parental leave system of the usual 3 years?

• Why do we reflect so little that the system pushes thousands of mothers out of the labor market and makes it difficult for them to return and to build their career growth?

• Why do so few fathers take parental leave in the Czech Republic?

• Why don't we create suitable conditions for mothers to return to work earlier than in 3 years, including support for preschool childcare?

• What are the benefits of an earlier return of parents for companies, but also for the parents themselves?

• What could be the social benefits of having more fathers on parental leave than is currently the case in the Czech Republic?

Again, unique data from a survey of employers and parents on the topic of earlier return to work will be available.

Moderator: Julie Hrstková, journalist and economic commentator of Hospodářské noviny

Programme

9:30-9:40 Opening of the Event

• Petra Ondrušová, Chief Sustainability Officer, Česká spořitelna, a.s.

• Marie Bendegard, Deputy Head of Mission, Swedish Embassy in Prague

• Pavel Štern, Director of Business for the company

9:40-9:50 Presentation of the results of questionnaire survey for parents and employers

• Pavel Štern and Kamila Čubanová, Business for society

9:50-10:30 PANEL 1: Swedish inspiration for the Czech labor market

The Swedish model of parental leave, its benefits for parents, employers and the state. Systemic support during parental leave not only for mothers, but also for fathers, during parental leave including sufficient financial support and career motivation. What can we be inspired by and transfer good practice for the Czech labor market.

• Marie Bendegard, Deputy Head of Mission, Swedish Embassy in the Czech Republic

• Christian Horne, CHRO and Head of Sustainability, Ambea

10:30-10:40 Stand-up: Fathers on parental leave in Czech Republic

• David Škrobánek, founder of Good Dad

10:40-11:10 Economic potential for shortening parental leave in the Czech Republic

Debate on the topic of how we could transfer the experience of Swedish practice to our environment.

• David Klimeš, director of the Independent Journalism Endowment Fund, journalist

• Petr Bartoň, economist, Datarun

11:10-11:20 Break 

11:20-11:25 Stand-up Mothers on maternity leave: experience from responsible companies

• Jana Chodorová, Supervisor Accounting CZ, SK a ERG Parents/Caregivers Lead, Philip Morris ČR, a.s.

11:25-12:10 PANEL 2: Changes in support for parents at work. Practice of responsible companies and public administration

Today, dozens of responsible companies provide a variety of system programs to support parents at work, including their earlier return. The programs start already during pregnancy and last for the entire period of parental leave, and also include support for education and expanding knowledge during parental leave, including the possibility of cooperation. Sharing good practice of responsible companies and public administration. How can the state help and support employers and parents themselves.

• Petra Ondrušová, Chief Sustainability Officer, Česká spořitelna

• Adriana de Martini, Head of HR, Deutsche Börse

• Michaela Opltová, Member of the Parliament, PS PČR

• Šárka Jelínková, Deputy Minister of Government, Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs

   

12:10-12:20 Summary and conclusion

12:20-13:00 Refreshments & networking

"Questions on shortening parental leave, finding ways to increase flexibility for parents, or innovative ways to achieve a balance between work and family life are absolutely essential, and we are intensively dedicated to solving them in the Chamber of Deputies. In addition, this year's Mothers and Fathers Welcome Conference connects these topics with examples of good practice from Scandinavia, which in many ways is an example worth following for us," says the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Markéta Pekarová Adamová