Higher paternity depart wouldn’t simply assist Daddy | Maternity & paternity rights

I’m so happy that paternity depart is getting some air time and there’s a marketing campaign to extend it (The Guardian view on paternity depart: campaigners are proper to demand extra, 5 Might). Most likely partly as a result of I comply with the Pregnant Then Screwed campaigns, my husband and I have mentioned this in depth. He’s now as a consequence of be taking a full six months of shared parental depart from his office this yr.

With our first child, he was at dwelling however working self‑employed, so had no advantages. I suffered with postnatal despair, and struggled with breastfeeding and the nervousness of attempting to do all of it proper.

This time, we’re so trying ahead to having six months off collectively as a household. My husband will be capable to bond with the newborn and be the supportive father to our toddler, with no psychological strain to need to be doing one thing else. It’s going to be so completely different!

We all know we’re the outliers – none of our buddies have completed this or appear inclined to. An enormous half is the ladies nonetheless need 12 months and fear that they’ve to return early in the event that they share the time. The lads additionally perhaps haven’t understood all their rights.

I will likely be taking 12 months, however it’s a matter of juggling office insurance policies and isn’t very simple to navigate. I simply needed to share that that is attainable. You’ll be able to have all of it. You’ll be able to take 12 months as the girl, and you’ll have your companion with you for longer than two weeks. And it could possibly be fantastic for you each.Leila FroudBath

I’m so very sorry to listen to that fathers are discovering it unattractive to take two weeks of paternity depart when compensated on the statutory £187.18 every week. Do let me remind you that this is identical nation which pays a girl a mere £6.38 an hour (six weeks of pay at 90% of her wage, which on common within the UK is roughly £700 every week, plus 33 weeks of maternity pay at that princely £187.18/week), half of the nationwide minimal wage, for giving up her profession for 39 weeks to as an alternative work at delivering and nurturing a future taxpayer.

This isn’t to say the bodily and emotional value of working “as regular” by the earlier 40 weeks of her being pregnant, the smooth influence on her profession of taking 9 months of depart, and the monetary value to the household of placing that little one into nursery at eight or 9 months outdated so the mom can return to her £700-a-week job. And that is earlier than we issue within the weeks of unpaid depart or vacation she is going to take to cowl diseases, and the influence on her profession of needing the flexibility to work round rigid nursery hours.

Maybe if we paid ladies correctly for his or her labour, males would discover it simpler to sacrifice their full earnings for 2 quick weeks with a view to change into extra absolutely engaged dad and mom.Alison SmithLondon

I learn your article on the proposed “dad strike” concerning the pathetic paternity entitlement within the UK whereas visiting my son, companion and youngsters in Oslo (British males urged to affix ‘Dad strike’ calling for extra paternity depart, 1 Might). My son is on 4 months’ paid paternity depart and his companion has just lately returned to work after eight months’ paid maternity depart. Sure, let me repeat, 4 months, paid.

On taking one among my grandchildren to the barnehage (nursery), I’m struck by the variety of younger males having accountability for his or her younger youngsters. That is the way it must be. It’s actually fantastic and it additionally allows many ladies to work full time.