Dads get maternity leave, one year ( Archived) (22)

New fathers win right to share a year of parental leave

Equalities minister says men are too often mocked in the workplace for wanting to juggle childcare and career

Men are too often mocked in the work place for wanting to go part time or leaving early to pick up their children, the Liberal Democrat equalities minister has said, as she announced detailed plans for new mums and dads to share a year of parental leave after the birth of a child.

Jo Swinson, who is eight months' pregnant, said she wanted to change the culture of workplaces to prevent the "conflict" between people's jobs and family life, making it just as normal for fathers to take on caring responsibilities as mothers.

She criticised the "cultural double-standards" and said it was not right for men to be disparaged for wanting to work less to spend more time caring for their children.

The proposals for parents to share 12 months of leave after the birth of a child were outlined by the Lib Dems last year, with the aim of helping women return to the workplace and allowing men to have more involvement in caring for new babies.

However, the details have only just been thrashed out by the coalition after months of wrangling about how to minimise hassle for businesses.

Under the new plans starting in April 2015, a couple will have to give their employers an indicative breakdown of how they plan to share their leave eight weeks before it starts. They will then be able to change their proposals twice during the year-long leave.

In a concession to businesses, bosses will have to agree any proposed pattern of time off and have the right to insist it is confined to a continuous block. Fathers will also get a new right to unpaid leave to attend up to two antenatal appointments.

Sources said Grant Shapps, the Conservative party chairman, led an effort to water down the package, backed by Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, Francis Maude, a cabinet office minister, Chris Grayling, the justice secretary, and Eric Pickles, the communities secretary.

The Conservative cabinet ministers wanted couples to give a binding commitment on how they would share the leave in advance, but the Lib Dems argued this would defeat the point of flexibility.

However, the Tories managed to retain the rules that parents will only be entitled to get the same job back if they take less than six months off, with anyone who takes longer potentially getting a similar but not identical role.

The Conservatives previously killed off Nick Clegg's demands for a month of dedicated "daddy leave" instead of the current two weeks.

The two parties have agreed to review the take-up of shared parental leave by fathers and look at extending paid paternity leave and pay "once the economy is in a stronger position".

Business groups, including the British Chambers of Commerce and Federation of Small Businesses, welcomed the plans, saying they had been simplified and made manageable for companies.

However, the Institute of Directors said shortening the notice period given to employers before parents return to work would create a "nightmare" for smaller firms. Other critics also pointed out surveys suggesting just one in 20 men will take up the offer.

Speaking to the Guardian, Swinson said more must be done to encourage men to take up their rights and questioned a culture in which men who take their family responsibilities seriously are "ribbed".

"Why does a man who works flexibly and part time get treated differently from the woman?" she said.

"It's a symptom of how we do have cultural double standards in many workplaces, where for women to take flexible working or leaving early on a particular day to pick up the kids from nursery is deemed to be acceptable but for some reason we treat a man who is making the same choice differently.

Morning Tom.

A bone of contention.

I agree that Father's have the right to bond with their children and learn good parenting skills hopefully.

It will cause contention in the work place though. At the moment an employer has to pay full wages for maternity leave for women,which is a bit harsh when you could potentially have 3 or 4 women away at the same time,and you have to cover the work load with extra staff.

No easy answer.

Good evening Tom and Glitch..

I think it is about time that fathers were acknowledged .. and although this is uncomfortable for small business owners, I think that there will be finally an understanding that we people who work full time.... are not robots...

meaning that... the government watched happily while we went from 35 hrs a week to 38 hrs a week... and most places require you to work much more ...depending on the industry we are in..

Furthermore.. the biggest shame is... that it now requires two incomes to purchase a house and live... and rarely can a mother stay home and do so comfortably

and the governments thought that it was a great idea.. forward thinking, and pushing up the 'civilised world.' Heck.. so finally.. we turn into little robots.. getting up at 6am.. and getting home at 6.30am.. and no time to even think about family time... partly due to tiredness, and partly due to no hours to relax..

and Now.. hello... people want to be normal people again.. and that is a good thing.. .

But Jeez Whiz, something has got to give..

so in our case...

we are not having enough children.. because of time and work restraints.. so the govt decided to give out the baby bonus to encourage a bit of populating... and hey..

all those single, never working mums thought beaudy... and so that brill idea.. got smacked on the head..

along with hiking prices up for commodities.. now it's impossible to make ends meets without mum and dad being working robots..

so this is the new plan... let mum and dad stop home..

the only good thing here is... while they are jacking up the retirement age.. .

maybe employers will take on temp staff... and those youngun's for whom there are no jobs.. might just get a go at working... before they decided that our system is well and truly stupid.. and decide that life on the dole will do..

Whatever have we come to...multiple past bad ideas and mistakes going to bite everyone on the bum..

n BTW... the baby bonus was $5000 per baby...

That was a stunner of an idea... especially for some..

Just got you onmy mobile so forgive typos, gees Glitch you scrub up well. I think it.s about time dads got some bonding timebut II take your points

Hit the nail onthehead as usual Merri

Oh... marry me and have my babies Tomcat...


Think of the $$$ Whooo Hoo...

Promises promises 3 or 4