This paper will discuss parental leave and will only concern full leave according to 3 § 1 st 2 p. föräldraledighetslag (1995:584). The purpose of this paper is to examine and find out how different employers' operations are affected by employees taking parental leave and what aspects that have an impact. The study examines, among other things, how the operations are affected in daily work and what consequences it entails. This paper will also investigate how the legislation surrounding parental leave has changed and developed over the course of history, and if it is possible to see a connection between the development of the legislation and the norms and attitudes on parental leave. Current legislation in the area will also be presented. Further, the study will find out how a completely individualized parental insurance could affect the interviewed employers' operations. All questions in this study are primarily based on interviews with three employers in the construction industry. We want to inform that our study is not to be generalized to all operations within the construction industry.

Why we chose to study how taking parental leave affects the employer's operation, is because we believe that it is an area that is not well explored. In addition, we want to study a male-dominated industry to add a focus on gender and men's use of parental leave.

Based on three interviews, legislation, proposals for laws, previous research and literature we analyze and come to the conclusion that the Swedish legislation on parental leave has changed as more women have entered the labor market, which has contributed to a more equal withdrawal of parental leave. Employers are affected when parental leave is taken, but in different ways. One of the most important aspects is that the parental leave is planned ahead and well communicated so that the employer can avoid negative impact. Finally, we note that a fully individualized parental insurance could affect the employers' operation, but it may as well remain unchanged.