Currently fathers have the right to take up to 13 weeks unpaid leave to care for their child until he or she is five years old (if they have completed one year’s service with their employer).
FNF have been campaigning so that the parental leave system doesn't just reinforce the traditional gender roles of ‘mothers as carers and fathers as breadwinners’ which no longer apply to today’s parents. No matter how young or old the child is, it is best for them to have two equally involved parents sharing the care of their children.
After many years of campaigning in April 2011 the Government is introducing a new right to Additional Paternity leave and pay for fathers of children. This will give fathers a right to up to six months extra leave which can be taken in the second six months of the child’s life, once the mother has returned to work. Some of the leave may be paid if taken during the mother’s maternity pay period.
What do you think?
Send us feedback!
