Dalton Henshaw and Keep It Cleaner co-founder Laura Henshaw became parents for the first time in December last year. Photo / Instagram
Dalton Henshaw and Keep It Cleaner co-founder Laura Henshaw became parents for the first time in December last year. Photo / Instagram
The businessman husband of fitness influencer Laura Henshaw has shared his thoughts on the treatment of working parents as he revealed he took “gender-neutral” paternity leave.
Dalton Henshaw welcomed son Atlas with Keep It Cleaner co-founder Laura Henshaw in December last year, the married couple’s first child together.
In aLinkedIn post, Dalton opened up about his decision to take paternity leave for three months so he could spend crucial time with his growing family.
The former footballer said the “three months of feeding schedules, 3am wake-ups, and learning to be genuinely needed” had made him more patient and considered in his working life.
He described the call as the “most important” choice he had made in years, despite having gone back and forth on whether he was “brave enough” to take a break.
“The idea that a father might step away for three months to simply be present for baby and mum – to do the unglamorous, repetitive, irreplaceable work of early bonding – still raises eyebrows in a way it shouldn’t.”
“The unspoken message in most workplaces is still: take a couple of weeks, be grateful, get back to it.”
Having founded “growth company” Bullfrog, Dalton said his background in business gave him an understanding of how important it is to lead by example.
Laura Henshaw (pictured right with Steph Claire Smith) welcomed her first child in December. Photo / Instagram
“Here’s what I believe as a founder and a leader: if your company policy only exists on paper – if the culture makes people feel like taking it is a risk to their career, their reputation, or how they’re perceived – then the policy means nothing.”
He advised new fathers in important roles to take the time off if they can or “build the culture that makes it possible if you can’t yet”.
The Australian couple first made waves when Dalton took Laura’s last name after their 2021 wedding.
On an episode of Laura’s podcast KIC POD, he said the decision had been pragmatic as they wanted their future children to have the same last name as their parents.
He told Laura: “I also know how hard you’ve worked to achieve what you have in your career and your name is so closely attached to being the CEO of Keep It Cleaner and the career you’ve carved out for yourself. It made a lot more sense for me to take your name.”
