Improving statutory paternity leave would benefit families and the economy, says charity

The UK offers new dads just two weeks of paid paternity leave, the worst in Europe.

The anti-poverty charity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is calling for reform, arguing that fairer paternity pay would not only support families but benefit the economy.

What are dads currently entitled to?

Dads are currently eligible for just two weeks’ paternity leave, paid at either £184.03 a week or 90% of their average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

That works out at around just 46% of the national living wage for a full-time, 35-hour work week.

For many families, it’s simply not enough to make taking time off work financially.

Calls for change

The JRF and the Centre for Progressive Policy (CPP) say that giving dads more paid time off would make a huge difference.

Their research found that if paternity leave was extended to six weeks at 90% of earnings, it could add £2.68bn to the UK economy.

This is because it would make it easier for couples to share childcare and therefore help mums go back to work earlier.

What other countries are doing?

Other countries are already seeing the benefits. In Spain, for example, both parents get 16 weeks of fully paid leave. The first six weeks are mandatory for each parent and the rest can be taken more flexibly and voluntarily.

Countries that offer at least six weeks of paid leave for dads have a smaller gender pay gap and more women in work.

The research shows this kind of policy leads to fairer outcomes for families and the economy.

Many dads miss out altogether

One big problem is that many dads aren’t even able to take statutory paternity pay.

Right now, you only qualify if:

• you’re an employee
• you’ve been in your job for at least 26 weeks

That leaves out self-employed dads and anyone who’s recently started a new job. In fact, a third of men working in construction — a sector full of self-employed male workers — didn’t take any time off when their last child was born.

The JRF says the government should:

• extend paternity leave to six weeks, paid at 90% of earnings (with a cap)
• create a new ‘paternity allowance’ for self-employed dads, similar to maternity allowance
• make sure all dads get a day-one right to both leave and pay

These changes would give more families the support they need and make sure money isn’t the reason dads can’t be there for their newborns.