The Fatherhood Institute is looking for individuals and couples happy to be interviewed (and perhaps photographed or filmed) by the media later this week or early next week on the subject of Additional Paternity Leave.

Right now, the government has created proposals to alter the current maternity and paternity leave system. Dads could get more leave, taking over a proportion of the mother’s leave if she chooses to go back to work after 20 weeks. And small firms employing 10 staff or less could get an exemption from offering some maternity and paternity rights.  From my point of view, the first proposal has lots to recommend it, while the second is scary and could drive mums back to work before they and their baby are …

The UK ranks in the bottom four of a “groundbreaking” new index measuring parenting leave, the gender pay gap and other equality issues, a study revealed.
Sweden was top of the 21-nation “family friendly” league table, with only Switzerland, Austria and Japan below the UK, according to an analysis by the Fatherhood Institute.

Did you (or your partner) take paternity leave? Many men want to, but few get to access the leave they need to start family life, and even fewer then go on to request flexible working.  In the Guardian last week, Rob Williams of the Fatherhood Institute wrote about the UK’s dysfunctional paternity leave system. He highlights how, “the unequal sharing of caring is a big driver of the gender pay gap.”
Until we manage to create a system where there is no gender pay gap, it will always make financial sense for the woman to take on …

Has pregnancy made you rethink your career? I was speaking to a journalist from a national baby magazine about this yesterday. She asked me about the numbers of mums who were looking at changing career post baby, and I said that the majority of women who have a serious rethink … even if many decide that going back to work is the only option available due to contracts or financial commitments.

Survey reveals that 4 in 10 fathers don’t take paternity leave because they can’t afford it
Some employers still deny fathers their rights to paid leave
The charity Working Families has launched a new campaign to raise fathers’ awareness of their rights to paternity leave and to encourage employers to “top up” statutory pay to full pay for the two weeks of leave.

Antonia Chitty of Family Friendly Working says, “We welcome the Governments plans to allow dads to share part of mums maternity leave. This will give dads a chance to play a greater role in parenting and share care. It is a good move for flexible working too, and acknowledges that in some families mum is the main breadwinner.”
Family Friendly Working would like to see the proposed plans for longer leave for mums upheld, as well as better paternity leave for dads.

Imagine falling pregnant and not having to worry about how you will live on one income, and how soon you would need to go back to work in the baby’s first year, writes Karen Miles of Motherhood – Career and Identity.
Imagine not having to put your unborn child’s name on a day care waiting list in hope they will be accepted in a years’ time? And how about not worrying about how you will cover child care costs if your child is accepted?
Imagine not being treated as an uncommitted worker …