Working Families New Campaign for Fathers 
Working Families has launched a “take up, top up” campaign to increase awareness of fathers’ rights, and to encourage more employers to top up statutory paternity pay to full pay for new fathers.
We know from our helpline callers that many fathers want to take paternity leave, but can’t because they are not eligible or because they can’t afford to.
Our survey with netmums and Dad.info found:
- 4 out of 10 fathers don’t take paternity leave
- 72 per cent of those who did not take leave gave the reason that they could not afford to take it
- 14 per cent of those who did not take leave gave the reason that they didn’t have enough length of service with their employer
- 13 per cent could not take paternity leave because they were self employed and not entitled to paid leave.
Click here for the press release with more details about the survey.
Our campaign aims to:
- raise awareness among fathers about their rights to paternity leave.
- increase the number of fathers eligible to take paternity leave and pay. All new fathers should be able to have time off with their new baby. We want the current long notice periods and service requirements reduced. We want fathers who don’t currently qualify for statutory paternity pay – including self-employed fathers - to have a paternity allowance instead.
- encourage employers to pay enhanced paternity pay - topping up the current £123.06 per week to the father’s usual weekly pay.
Click here for our factsheet on fathers’ rights .
UPDATE
The Government’s Green Paper for Families launched January 2010 promises consultation on the notice period for paternity leave, exploration of the barriers faced by fathers not eligible for paternity pay and a look at the merits of a paternity allowance. http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/supportforall/
Support our campaign here and we’ll email you regular updates.