British Fathers To Get Six Months Paternity Leave From 2011
January 29, 2010 1 Comment
The British Government is going to allow fathers and mothers to share parental leave with up to three of the legal nine months being available to fathers and an additional three months unpaid.
It’s about time fathers got some official recognition for their importance in the early life of their children.
The business community is up in arms about how this will be too expensive for business and will hurt the economy.
But with only two-thirds of new mothers returning to work surely this will be a help, not a hindrance, by giving them the opportunity to get back in the workforce. Is it going to cost a lot of money because we would lose the higher earners for three months? If so, then pay equality needs to be addressed.
In the UK fathers currently only get two weeks off which is not enough at all.
This new law will be in effect in April 2011 and I know my future family will be thankful for it. Having this option allows women more chance to get back to work and their careers and gives fathers the opportunity to have a relationship with their children beyond tucking them into bed after a long day at the office.
Sexism goes both ways and we need to start allowing fathers the chance to have a greater role in their children’s lives, should they choose it.
This is good news! Us workers are often treated like cattle, with employers pressing us to spend every waking moment working non-stop and sacrificing everything else in our lives to work. I am glad that our more important responsibilities – spending time with our families – is getting some acknowledgment!