Fathers-to-be should check up on paternity entitlements

Fathers-to-be should swot up on their entitlements when it comes to taking paternity leave as April 2011, things are set to change again.

“Fathers will have the right to take up to 26 weeks’ additional paternity leave, thereby sharing the childcare more equitably with mothers. Given the low uptake of ordinary paternity leave, it remains to be seen how many fathers will take advantage of the new right – the government estimate that it will be between 4-8%” Says Beth Hale, associate at law firm Stephenson Harwood.

Since April 2003, a father’s legal rights to paternity leave is just two weeks. “But the uptake has been surprisingly low”, Beth says, “Largely because employees are either unaware of their rights or because they cannot afford to take the leave (fathers are only entitled to statutory pay of around £120 per week during paternity leave).”

Despite the obvious benefits to be gained from paternity leave, including helping out their partner and quality bonding time with their new baby, only 1 in 5 dads took paternity leave in 2004 according to research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2009.

A surprising 45% of fathers do not go on to take the full two week entitlement they are currently allowed.