More paternity leave to redress the balance

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has called for radical reforms to parental leave legislation that would enable fathers to take more time off to care for their young children. The extension of maternity leave has been welcomed by mothers but, according to the EHRC, has 'entrenched the assumption that women do the caring and pay the career penalty'. The EHRC are proposing that mums should have 26 weeks' leave after the birth of their baby, while dads should still get two weeks - but both at 90% of their pay which is higher than at the moment. But then parents should get three blocks of four-months' leave - one that the dad can take on his own, one that the mum can take, and one that they can share between them according to what suits them. The first eight weeks of each of those blocks should be at 90% of their pay.

The EHRC also revealed the results of a survey into attitudes towards parenting. They say: 'modern mothers and fathers defy the Fifties stereotype of stay-at-home mums and breadwinner dads. They aspire to approach parenting as a team effort, shared between mothers, fathers, partners and other carers.' The survey found that:

• Nearly a third of parents feel that they spend too little time with their children - 54 per cent of fathers with children under one stated that they felt they spend too little time with their children
• Over half (53 per cent) say their current arrangements are ‘by necessity’ rather than choice
  
• 47 per cent of parents disagreed when asked whether parents have a choice whether to spend time with their children or at work. 31 per cent agreed
  
• 76 per cent of women say they have primary responsibility for their children
• 60 per cent of parents think fathers should spend more time with their children. Of the 45 per cent of fathers who haven’t taken up current paternity leave arrangements, 88 per cent said they would have liked to, but nearly half said they could not afford to
  
• Almost 70 per cent of fathers who took paternity leave say it improved the quality of family life, and 56 per cent say it led to them taking a greater role in caring for their children

You can read more about the report on the EHRC website where you can download a copy of the report.