Parents will soon be able to split paternity leave

Mums and dads in the UK will be able to split 50 weeks of parental leave under new Government plans which come into effect in April 2015.

 

British fathers, who were only entitled to two weeks off, will now officially be able to take parental leave.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said it was time to change the “Edwardian” rules that only mums could take time off while dads had to go back after two weeks. 

 

Under the new system, parents can either take the statutory leave all at once or in blocks, depending on their family needs. The 50 weeks will be on top of the “two week ‘recovery time’ mothers get immediately after pregnancy.”

 

In addition to the leave, parents will be able to take 18 weeks of unpaid parental leave per child until they reach 18 and fathers will be entitled to unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments.

 

The new rules are in response to the change in the family structure, Nick Clegg says: “We need to challenge the old-fashioned assumption that women will always be the parent that stays at home – many fathers want that option too.”

 

Sarah Jackson, who runs the campaign group Working Families, says that the new rules will help “stamp out” workplace discrimination.

 

However, Jackson claims that: “Shared parental leave will only be a success if we encourage father’ engagement from the outset – and that means making it easier to take paternity leave.”