<p>Men’s use of parental leaves is important for advancing gender equity. Yet, men rarely take such leaves for fear of negative effects on their careers. Contrary to these fears, drawing on the literature on gender and leader stereotypes and expectancy violation theory, we suggest that taking a parental leave may enhance others’ perceptions of men’s communality, which are in turn related to positive career outcomes (e.g., reward recommendations, leadership effectiveness). We further suggest that this positive effect of parental leave on career outcomes due to increased perceptions of communality would be unique to men, rather than extending to women who take parental leaves. Using samples of Canadian employees and experimental vignette methodology, we found support for our hypotheses in two studies in the context of Canadian parental leave policies. These findings offer valuable insights for managers and organizations regarding the complex impact of men taking parental leave on gender equity. Men’s participation in parental leave is essential for breaking traditional gender roles surrounding the equal division of childcare. However, men’s use of leave can also inadvertently reinforce gender inequities if organizations fail to proactively implement strategies that ensure equitable career outcomes for both men and women after returning from leave.</p>