Five and a half months paid leave for new dads

Paternity leave reform could mean new fathers are allowed up to five and a half months paid leave

The government has proposed that new fathers be allowed up to five and a half months paid paternity leave from the year 2015, to reflect a more modern workplace in Britain.

Currently new fathers are only permitted two weeks paid leave, while new mothers are given 12 months leave, nine of which are paid. The new proposal will give fathers an additional four weeks paid leave, enabling the couple to share the responsibilities of becoming new parents.

‘Our proposals will encourage greater choice by giving employees and their employers the flexibility to find arrangements to suit them both,’ says Business Secretary, Vincent Cable.

'New parents should be able to choose their childcare arrangements for themselves, rather than being dictated to by rigid Government regulations as is currently the case.’

Depending on how the couple divide the extra seven months given by the government, fathers could potentially take up to five and a half months paid leave. The new proposal, means employers will not be allowed to deny their employees paid leave.

‘We will ensure that businesses will still be able to take into account their needs when agreeing how leave can be taken,’ says Mr Cable.

‘But I’m also confident that we have a good case to make on the wider benefits to business – not least from a motivated and flexible workforce.'

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