The Fatherhood Institute is campaigning for better paternity leave for fathers, saying that “the UK’s statutory paternity offer is the least generous in Europe and one of the worst in the developed world”.
Current statutory paternity leave is just two weeks unless the individual’s contract allows for more.
In order to be able to:
- bond with their babies
- support mothers’ birth recovery and breastfeeding
- become skilled and confident solo caregivers
The Fatherhood Institute is campaigning for all fathers to receive six weeks leave in their baby’s first year, paid at 90% of average weekly earnings, and for this to include:
- Two weeks’ paternity leave, to be taken after the birth
- A ‘daddy month’ (four weeks) of non-transferable parental leave, to be taken within the baby’s first year – ideally solo, when the mother returns to work.
The institute also asks for a ‘crisis days’ days allowance to provide unplanned support during the mother’s maternity leave.
It believes that six weeks’ leave will mean that:
- many more fathers take leave
- many mothers return to work earlier
- the gender pay gap will reduce
- financial stress will be reduced for families of young children
- demand for paid-for early years education and childcare will be lessened
Current paternity leave is unavailable to some fathers, including:
- self-employed
- those not classed as ‘employees’
- someone who has changed employer within the previous ten months
- anyone who does qualify but can’t afford to take the leave
The institute’s campaign will need a governmental change, and while the government’s Employment Rights Bill seeks to make paternity leave a day 1 right, it provides little more detail, including on pay.
In line with maternity leave/maternity allowance, the institute is seeking payment of 90% of average weekly earnings for all employed fathers/second parents (with a payment ‘cap’ for high earners) and a paternity allowance for self-employed fathers/second parents.
The institute believes that six weeks, whilst not matching the best paternity leave – offered by Scandinavian systems – it would be a good middle ground and would lead to mothers and fathers having access to an equal amount of paid leave.
Find out more about the six weeks for dads campaign.
