Poor paternity leave offer has negative impacts on families, say charity
48% of dads in the South West were unhappy with the paternity offered
New research reveals almost half (46%) of parents with young children were dissatisfied with their/their partner’s paternity leave package.
The top reasons include not being given enough time off (73%), being displeased with their pay (59%) and a lack of flexibility upon returning to work (28%).
Three quarters (76%) of fathers and non-birthing parents were offered just two weeks' leave by their employer - the current minimum statutory requirement in the UK - which is scant when compared to the 52-week entitlement given for maternity leave.
In the South-West, 48% of people were unhappy with the paternity package they or their employer offered. 70% of the people took the maximum amount of paternity leave with just 14% of people were offered any leave in addition to the statutory period.
According to the findings, by childcare service Koru Kids, inadequate paternity leave has a knock-on effect on all aspects of family life.
Over half of parents revealed it negatively impacted their mental health (56%), while a quarter (24%) say their physical health suffered as a result.
A third of dads/non-birthing partners (32%) also said that their relationship suffered, whilst the same number said they were left feeling financially unstable or expected to check work emails while off.
This has a huge knock-on effect on mothers and primary caregivers. Worryingly, 73% of mothers surveyed say they felt abandoned during such a vulnerable time, whilst more than two thirds (68%) had to take on the majority of household chores and childcare duties alone.
In fact, 80% of parents believe that the unequal maternity/paternity leave policies in the UK reinforce traditional gender stereotypes, where the mother adopts a homemaking role while the father returns to work.
Adrienne Burgess, joint CEO and Head of Research for The Fatherhood Institute said:
“We’ve been calling for a father-inclusive parenting leave system for years, but it’s still startling just how little progress has been made to change the status quo in the UK.
"Together with Koru Kids, we’re campaigning for fathers and non-birthing partners to be given six weeks minimum paid leave in the first year after the birth of a child, and for workplaces to be transparent when it comes to the package they offer.”
Fathers struggling to create bonds with their child
Perhaps most concerning is the impact that it can have on the child. Three in five (62%) mums surveyed say they felt their partner struggled to create a bond with their new baby due to a lack of time off, and over half (52%) of parents said their child didn’t receive enough attention during those crucial first months.
A new ‘Paternity League’ Table has been released today, shining a spotlight on the most and least generous paternity leave packages offered by UK firms on Glassdoor’s ‘Top 50 Best Places To Work 2022’*.
It serves to highlight how workplaces need to step up their game and help level the playing field when it comes to parental leave and family-friendly workplace policies.
Koru Kids has partnered with think-tank The Fatherhood Institute, to encourage more open discussions around paternity leave in and outside of the workplace.
Rachel Carrell, founder and CEO of Koru Kids, comments:
“Gender inequality starts at day 1, thanks to poor paternity leave packages, and our research confirms that paternity leave is severely underfunded and overlooked.
"With 60% of dads saying good paternity leave would be a factor when finding a new role, every employer should check their paternity package and make sure it truly provides financial stability, flexibility and enough time for new parents to bond with their baby.
"Our Paternity League table shows some companies have outstanding and inspirational policies, but disappointingly, others that are renowned for being great places to work actually have paternity packages that leave much to be desired, while several in the top 50 declined to share details of their package at all.
"It’s time we broke down the barriers to accessing parental leave, so that men, women and children can flourish.”