The UK offers limited paternity leave, falling short compared to other nations’ policies.
London: Statutory paternity leave in the UK is quite limited. New dads can take just two weeks off, and they earn less than half the minimum wage during this time.
In contrast, other countries offer much better paternity leave. For instance, in Norway, dads get 15 weeks of paid leave at over 90% of their salary. This has helped create a more equal society.
So, what does the UK provide for new dads? Employees can take one or two weeks of paid leave if they are having a baby, adopting, or using a surrogacy agreement. This also applies to same-sex couples.
The government pays either £184.03 a week or 90% of the employee’s average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Some companies may offer better packages, but many cannot afford to do so.
Self-employed individuals have no rights to statutory paternity leave. Partners can share maternity leave if both employers agree, allowing up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay to be shared.
When we look at the UK compared to other countries, it ranks poorly. In Sweden, for example, parents can share 480 days of paid parental leave. They can split it however they want, but each parent has 90 days reserved just for them.
In Sweden, the pay is based on income, usually up to 80% of salary. Fathers take about 30% of all parental leave there. Although taxes are higher in Sweden, many dads appreciate the time with their kids.
Joeli Brearley, founder of Pregnant Then Screwed, believes better paternity leave could help reduce the gender pay gap. Research shows countries with at least six weeks of paid paternity leave have a 4% smaller gender pay gap.
Currently, the UK’s gender pay gap is about 7%. When dads return to work quickly, moms often become the primary caregivers, which can hurt their careers.
In Sweden, the parental leave policy has made society more equal. Arvid Vikman Rindevall from the Social Democrats party says it helps fathers bond with their children.
He notes that some fathers hesitate to take leave due to workplace culture. However, when parental leave is mandatory, it becomes easier for them to take time off.
Otto, a dad in Sweden, took nine months off work. He found it rewarding and empowering to share parenting responsibilities.
In the UK, many new dads feel rushed back to work. Marvyn Harrison from Dope Black Dads emphasizes that this issue affects everyone, regardless of class.
The Labour government plans to make paternity leave available to all employees from day one of their job. They are also reviewing parental leave to better support working families.
Sir Keir Starmer mentioned that the government aims to extend parental rights, stating that economic growth requires parents to balance work and family life.
