More male faculty members than ever before are taking time off after the birth of their children and going on paternity leave, most likely due to changing attitudes toward gender roles, Bob Drago, professor of labor studies and industrial relations, said.

Penn State's current policy toward paternity leave, which has been in place for the past decade, reflects this nationwide trend. Both male and female employees are given up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off for childcare as outlined by the federal Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 and have additional time off if needed under university policy, Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said in an e-mail message.

Linda Pierce, director of work/life programs for the Office of Human Resources, said the university has made attempts to help employees remain on the payroll during their leave of absence. For example, a policy has been revised that allows staff members to use up to five sick days to take time off for maternity or paternity leave, she said.

However, Pierce said while staff members can use accrued vacation and sick time, faculty members cannot because they do not accrue time this way. Pierce said the university does not have the exact number of men who have taken paternity leaves because it only keep records of when individuals take time off without pay.

Similarly, officials from the United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics said they did not have national statistics on this trend.

Drago said the trend is real and began in the late 1970s when more women began to enter the professional world.

"Highly-educated women are increasingly holding down careers," he said, adding that these women often expect men to take on a greater role in the family. "This expectation has spilled over in men doing paternity leaves."

Drago said there is a stark contrast between the way paternity leaves are viewed today in comparison to in past decades. "It's now cool for young men to engage in childcare," Drago said. "But it wasn't cool 20 years ago."

Kendig said he has had personal experience with paternity leave.

"When my son was born this past February and my wife needed to return to her public school job in April to finish out the school year, I was able to take a six-week paternity leave to care for him at home," he said. As a staff member, Kendig was able to use a combination of family sick time and earned vacation days to remain on the payroll.

He added that staying at home did not stop him from remaining in contact with Penn State. "I took advantage of the technology at the university to stay connected to the office and get some work done at home between feedings and diaper changes," he said, adding that his supervisor and colleagues were very supportive of his choice to stay at home with his son.

While the number of men going on paternity leave is increasing, women still take leave more frequently and for longer periods of time, Drago said.