Many dads are unaware of their paternity rights and a month-long government campaign aims to change this
While the dads of today feel it’s important to spend time with their new baby, many aren’t aware of their rights at work. This means many fathers could be missing out on entitlements. To tackle this issue, a new awareness campaign has started, directing new dads and dad-to-be to detailed info online.
According to figures released today by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), 20% of dads with children under 16 don’t know if their employer offers flexible working, despite having the right to request flexible arrangements.
Also, one in three parents with children under 5 don’t know that paid paternity leave is law. One in five dads don’t know when they must to speak to their employer about paternity leave – they think they only have to talk to their company about it after the birth or before their newborn is 8 weeks old. In reality, to benefit from legal paternity rights, dads need to talk to their employer 15 weeks before their partner’s due date.
So what rights do dads have at work? In a nutshell, dads are entitled to:
- Request flexible working. If you have a child under 16 you can request flexible working arrangements and, by law, your employer must seriously consider the request. Flexible working includes things such as flexi-time, part-time or working from home.
- Paid paternity leave. As a new dad, you have the right to take two weeks’ paid leave. You’ll need to tell your employer 15 weeks before your baby’s due. You are entitled to get £123.06 per week. Check out the details of your paternity rights.
- Parental leave. Dads, you have the right to take up to 13 weeks unpaid leave until your child’s 5 years old.
Next year, in April, maternity and paternity leave is set to change, so make sure you read up on what you’re entitled to.
