We know men earn more money than women, on average, but a new study just turned up a somewhat surprising manifestation of wage inequality: a gender pay gap in parental leave.

Though fathers are less likely than mothers to take time off to care for a new baby or a family member, when they do take leave, theyre more likely to be paid by their employer.

The findings come from a comprehensive survey and focus group study on men and caregiving released Wednesday by New America, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

According to the survey, 71% of fathers who took leave to care for a child or family member reported that the time off was at least partially paid by their employer. Fifty-seven percent said the leave was fully paid.

Meanwhile, only 52% of mothers said their caregiving leave was even partially paid. Just 33% took fully paid leave.

This disparity holds despite that fact that mothers in some states have access to paid maternity leave through disability insurance something fathers can not use.

New Americas report is based on a nationally representative survey of 2,966 men and women conducted April 25-May 16, using an online panel run by NORC , a research institution at the University of Chicago. The researchers also convened focus groups centering on 68 adults in total. (Read the full methodology .)