IT’S a good time to talk about paternity leave rights, ahead of Father’s Day this Sunday.
A new report urges more help for working dads and argues this will in turn assist mums in returning to work and so boost the economy while also reducing the gender pay gap — and improving the mental health of both parents.
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The report, Leave In The Lurch: Paternity Leave, Gender Equality and the UK, from think tank the Centre for Progressive Policy and campaign groups Pregnant Then Screwed and Women in Data, finds that extending paid paternity leave to six weeks could boost UK Plc to the tune of £23 BILLION.
More than 92 per cent of dads work but while there is plenty of support for working mums, fewer firms have robust policies to support dads.
Statutory paternity leave is for a maximum of two weeks and is capped at £172.48 per — 44 per cent of the national living wage — or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings, whichever is the lower.
So half of dads take less paternity leave than they would like and one in five claim none at all.
More than two in five dads who returned to work early cited money worries but more than three in five said they were not mentally ready to return so soon.
Meanwhile the new report reveals countries offering six weeks or more of paid paternity leave have a four per cent smaller gender wage gap and 3.7 per cent smaller labour force participation gap.
A YouGov survey has also found 65 per cent of mums with children under age 12 thought increasing paid paternity leave would help mothers’ readiness to return to work.
Rosie Fogden, of the Centre for Progressive Policy, said: “While long-held societal norms about gendered parenting roles are shifting, the UK’s parental leave system has not kept pace.
“It is still very difficult for many fathers and second parents to afford to take leave when children are born, and this has serious consequences for both parents’ mental health.”
Mobile phone giant Vodafone, however, was recognised at last year’s Working Dads Award for the excellent support it offers.
Chris Parkinson is a senior manager at the company, and a dad of two toddlers.
Roles are shifting
He said: “Thanks to Vodafone’s global parental leave policy — which offers 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave at any time during the first 18 months to anyone whose partner is having a baby, adopting a child or becoming a parent through surrogacy — I was able to take time off with both of my kids when they were small.
“Sharing caring responsibilities in those early days was a real privilege and helped to set a positive work/life balance that continues today.
“I work a split between being in the office and working from home, which is brilliant for my team and helps me to juggle both work commitments and childcare.”
Juggling kids and the job
STRUGGLING to combine work and fatherhood?
Amanda Augustine, careers expert for TopCV, shares steps for dads with school-age kids to make working life easier . . .
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- Propose a more flexible work schedule to your manager: This could include having the freedom to rearrange your schedule so you can attend school functions, to adjust shift start and end times, or to work from home more regularly. First, check your firm’s existing policies.
- Explain the “why”: Instead of simply telling your team that you’ll be “offline for the afternoon”, explain that you’ll be “popping out at 2pm for two hours to attend a meeting with my child’s teacher and will be back online by 5pm to catch up with emails”. It will help your co-workers to understand your situation and appreciate your commitment to both your job and family life.
- Find your tribe: It should include other working parents who can relate to your juggle struggle, as well as nearby family members and stay-at-home parents in your neighbourhood or your children’s class who can offer back-up childcare.
- Hold a family “private study”: Establish a free period each night when the whole family has quiet time so you can catch up on work while your kids complete homework. Younger children can use this quiet time to read a book or play with a few special toys.
- Manage your school commitments: Avoid the working-dad guilt and be strategic about how you volunteer to help at your children’s school. You won’t be able to participate in every bake sale and book fair, but you can maybe take the odd day off work to do your bit.
- Mind your mental health: You can’t be a good parent and employee if you neglect your own wellbeing. Make time for yourself, even if it’s only 20 minutes a day.
Boost for carers
JOHN LEWIS and Waitrose will give all new foster carers on staff additional paid leave.
The retailer is the largest organisation to receive Foster Friendly accreditation via the Fostering Network.
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Sharon White, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “There is a national shortage of foster carers, leaving many children without a stable background and unable to fulfil their potential.
“Our Partners will now qualify for an additional week of paid leave, meaning they will have more flexibility to balance all the things they need to be great foster carers.”
See rb.gy/980q5 for details.
Amazon woos parents
FINDING childcare during school holidays can be super-expensive, so Amazon has launched new “term-time only” contracts to offer greater flexibility for working parents.
The roles provide guaranteed time off during the summer, Easter and Christmas breaks, without affecting employees’ benefits such as private medical insurance and life assurance.
Amazon UK chief John Boumphrey said: “Providing a flexible part-time contract where people can pick the shifts that best suit their needs will support our employees’ partners, and other job-seekers with family caring commitments, with a route back to the workplace, helping to boost household income.”
