Paternity leave, or paid time off for fathers with newborns, has become increasingly popular 
over the past decade. New mothers need all the support they can get and paternity leave also gives a new father time to bond with his baby. Although there are innumerous benefits, a recent discussion by a
The
The government claims its pay package is both “generous and progressive″ for both mothers and employers yet the report states poorer mothers are hit twice with less time off and lower maternity pay. The maternity leave allowance is high when compared with other developing countries, but the paternity leave is low encouraging families to maintain a traditional division of labor with the mums staying at home.
Encouraging mothers to become “detached″ from the workplace while fathers remain absent leaves the report to claim the current system is “old fashioned and out of date″. The harshest criticism, however, relates to the disparity between women who are financially stable and poorer mothers. The report explains that more money does not need to be spent, but rather to target the available funds.
Many recommendations were made in the report, including a flat rate for both maternity and paternity leave that would be payable over the course of 6 months. Both parents should be able to take as much leave as desired but should still receive the same amount of money regardless of leave time. Currently, mothers in the UK receive 90% of their pay for 6 months, and fathers are entitled to 2 weeks paid leave after the child is born. Essentially, the aim of the report is to allow both parents the time they need with their families while being able to balance work commitments.
Tags: paternity leave
