Paternity Leave Around The World: Where Does The UK Sit?

On the back of Virgin's decision to offer new dads up to one year's paternity leave on full pay, we look at how parental leave differs around the world.

Virgin now offers what seems to be the most generous paternity leave package in the UK, with new dads being able to take up to one year off on full pay.

This new scheme extends to both sexes and goes way beyond the new government policy, which came into affect in April 2015. Under those new laws, mothers and fathers may divide up to 50 weeks parental leave between them, as they see fit.

At Virgin, though, both men and women who have worked for the company for at least four years will be entitled to a year's paternity leave on full pay, and those who have been with Virgin for two years or less will receive 25 per cent of their salary.

In a statement, Sir Richard Branson said: 'If you take care of your employees they will take care of your business. As a father and now a granddad to three wonderful grandchildren, I know how magical the first year of a child’s life is but also how much hard work it takes.'

It should be noted that this scheme is only open to Virgin Management, Virgin Group's brand licencing and investment division, which has less than 140 employees.

So, where does the UK sit when it comes to parental leave? This report by Citation, a UK employment law specialist, published at the beginning of the year, shows how maternity and paternity leave packages differ around the world...