Cultural change needed on paternity leave, claim Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats have claimed that only one in five fathers are taking advantage of their right to paid paternity leave.
From April 2003 onwards, new fathers have been entitled to take two weeks’ paid leave at £100 a week, or 90 per cent of their weekly salary if less. This is the same rate as statutory maternity pay.
However, new Liberal Democrat figures, obtained from the Inland Revenue, suggest that only 19 per cent of those eligible have taken up the entitlement.
Trade and industry spokesman, Malcolm Bruce, said: “The low take-up of paid paternity leave indicates that some men are still influenced by our ‘macho’ culture. 1950s Britain is clearly still alive and well.
“It may be that men don’t want to take time off work to help look after their newborn baby because they’re worried what their male colleagues will think. Worse, they may be afraid their boss will hold it against them.
“The right to paid paternity leave will remain an empty victory for fathers as long as cultural norms dictate that duty to their jobs overrides that to their families.”
When the entitlement was first launched, the Government estimated that as many as 400,000 men a year could be entitled to the benefit, and budgeted for a 70 per cent take-up rate.
The Government is committed to reviewing the impact of the working parents strategy in 2006 to see whether there has been increased availability of flexible working practises, increased satisfaction with work-life balance, and increased participation of parents in the workplace.
Other measures to be reviewed at the same time include the right for parents with a child under six to ask for flexible working arrangements.
