Time to Talk Time Off

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Although many ophthalmologists will take parental leave at some point in their careers, little is known about the perceptions around taking leave and the potential impact of doing so. It was this gap in the literature, and the desire to understand the effects of “stop-the-clock” policies within different practice settings, that prompted Lora Glass’ lab to put the issue under a much-needed spotlight. As Glass explains, “We set out to gain a better understanding of perceptions toward stop-the-clock policies, workplace culture, and stressors involved in taking parental leave amongst this population. We also [looked] at the association between demographic factors such as sex, years out of training, parental status, and type of employment (private practice vs. academic).”

Glass’ lab in the Department of Ophthalmology, Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York conducted a non-validated survey through a 19-item online questionnaire that was completed by 186 self-identified North American-based ophthalmologists who had completed training. According to lead author Kisha Kalra, the results were varied (1). “Interestingly, attitudes towards stop-the-clock policies were mixed, even when stratified by demographic factors. In other words, no particular group was more opinionated about these policies than another. This might reflect that policy awareness is limited across the board, and/or that these policies vary considerably from one place of work to another.” Another notable trend, says Kalra, was that those who graduated more recently were more comfortable with taking leave, compared with earlier graduates. “This may imply a generational shift in both expectations and attitudes to work-life balance.”

Addressing the concerns found in the study will likely need to begin with an increase in communication. As many physicians lack complete awareness of their current workplace policy and options, certain concerns – such as coverage and salary – might need to be more transparently and smoothly addressed in larger groups and departments. As for future research, now they have provided an overview of ophthalmologists’ concerns and considerations around parental leave, Glass’ team wants to take a deeper dive. Glass explains, “There are still so many questions to answer in this area. For instance, what is the effect of leave duration and total number of leaves? Does parental vs. non-parental (for example medical) leave alter responses? By opening up conversation about the nuances of taking leave, we hope policy can adapt to suit the needs of ophthalmologists over time and in all practice settings.”