Giving parents the time to choose what works for their family
“I’m so glad I did it. You experience parenting differently when you’re the person there day to day. It was really important for me that I have this time with Fionn.”
Jari Marjelund, Technology & Transformation, Deloitte Ireland.
When Jari Marjelund’s son Fionn was born, he knew he wanted more than just those first few weeks at home. Fionn was a happy baby with a great sense of humour and when there was a gap in their childcare, Jari decided to step away from his work to spend some meaningful time with his son.
Originally from Finland, Jari has lived in Ireland for 11 years and works in Technology & Transformation specialising in financial services. He lives in Dublin with his wife and two children and Fionn, the youngest, is now a year and a half. “I wanted to really experience the responsibility of being the at-home parent,” explains Jari. “While I’ve always tried to be as present a parent as I can and to share the responsibilities at home, it was important to me to take an extended period at least once while Fionn was little and really experience being with him full time. “There were practical considerations too. Like many families, Jari and his wife had to work out how to balance two careers, childcare and the realities of family life. Having parental leave gave them greater flexibility to make those decisions.
Of course, the motivation for Jari was also deeply personal. “Those few months were very different to working life. But I really enjoyed this time with Fionn. We had swimming lessons (which he hated!) and baby music classes (which he liked better!) There were lots of activities and plenty of treats. I was able to focus on Fionn without also thinking about projects, clients and deliverables and I felt very accommodated by everyone at Deloitte. Because I had flagged it early, my team was very supportive.”
Life can be exciting and unexpected and every journey to parenthood is unique. From day one, Deloitte Ireland people have access to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, adoption and surrogacy leave, 2 weeks of paid new child (paternity) leave, 9 weeks of paid parents leave for each parent, 10 days of paid leave per cycle for fertility treatment, paid foster care leave and 26 weeks of flexible, unpaid parental leave. For those experiencing early pregnancy loss, we provide 20 days of paid leave, and paid leave for the relevant partner, so they can support their loved ones through this difficult time.
Davina Christie is the Head of Employee Relations & Inclusion. She believes these policies make a huge difference to colleagues.
“It's so rewarding to see how policies like this translate into people's everyday lives, giving colleagues the flexibility and support to make choices that work for them and their families".
Davina Christie, Head of Employee Relations & Inclusion, Deloitte Ireland
“But it's more than just policies; we also provide a phased return to work, parent returner workshops and our vibrant Family & Caregiver network, creating a welcoming space where parents and caregivers connect, share experiences, exchange valuable tips and resources. Combined with our flexible hybrid Deloitte Works strategy and the ability to work abroad for pre-agreed periods, we're truly committed to supporting our people to balance their personal and work priorities in a way that works for them, our clients, and the firm."
For Jari, coming from Finland, he has seen more fathers take significant periods of parental leave and sees Ireland increasingly moving towards a culture where that choice feels equally ordinary. “Dads taking time off is a bit more normalised where I’m from and it’s great to see Ireland catching up,” he explains.
Fionn is now happily settled into creche. Jari is back at work and family life has moved into a new rhythm. Jari says this leave gave him the freedom to fully step into family life for a period and the confidence to step back into his career smoothly. “I’m so glad I did it. You experience parenting differently when you’re the person there day to day. It was really important for me that I have that time with Fionn.”
