Dads cautious about extending paternity leave
Despite new rules coming into effect this weekend allowing new fathers to take up to six months paternity leave, new research from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service, reveals that just 59% of fathers would be prepared to take extended paternity leave. Four in ten (41%) would rule the option out for fear of being judged at work, concerns over the impact on their career or even out of fear of losing their jobs.
Overwhelmingly, men think the new rules are a good thing, with 80% welcoming the change. For many this is prompted by their own experiences, with seven in ten dads (68%) saying that the time they had off after the birth of a previous child just wasn't enough. Despite this, a quarter (26%) say they wouldn't take advantage of the new rules because it would have a negative impact on their career, and 16% would be worried about losing their job. Almost half (49%) say that they wouldn't be able to take time off in their line of work.
Moreover, fear of being judged doesn't stop there - 57% of fathers or those planning to be fathers say that the new paternity rules will make employers re-consider hiring men who may want to start a family.
Over half of those who wouldn't take paternity leave (52%) say that they wouldn't be able to afford it. This suggests that despite more generous paternity leave being available, many men will carry on as before, taking holiday after the birth of a child. Most use their holiday allowance for financial reasons - they don't lose any pay. But a lot of fathers choose to take holiday because of negative perceptions attached to taking paternity leave - a fifth of fathers (21%) have taken holiday because they thought their career would suffer if they'd taken paternity leave, while over a quarter (29%) thought it was more acceptable to take holiday than paternity leave.
And this concept of what is and isn't acceptable is enough to prevent many from taking advantage of the new paternity leave rules - 18% think their colleagues or managers would take a dim view and a quarter (24%) would be worried about the impact on their team. Interestingly though, 61% say that they would be fine if the boot was on the other foot and a male colleague took 6 months paternity leave.
Despite this seeming acceptance though, a third (33%) would be surprised if a male colleague actually did this. Almost a quarter (22%) think it would have a negative effect on the colleague's career, while 16% would be annoyed at picking up the extra work. 17% say it's unfair on those who aren't parents. Under one in ten men (8%) say it would be completely unacceptable for a male colleague to take 6 months paternity leave.
But it seems the Government's plan is tapping into an underlying concern - two thirds of fathers (62%) feel that the current two weeks statutory paternity leave isn't long enough. Three quarters (76%) would have liked more time to bond with their child and over two-thirds (69%) would have liked more time to have been able to help out at home. Worryingly, three in ten (30%) missed out because their work wouldn't let them take leave. While the new rules will be able to help with the latter, it remains to be seen whether men will take paternity leave and potentially risk their careers in the same way women have done for years.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "The Government may have recognised that fathers today are a lot more hands-on than they may have been in the past, but putting legislation in to support this is only part of the battle. The biggest fight will be to change social opinion, fears and prejudices and this is not going to happen overnight.
"However, the biggest reason for men not taking paternity leave in the past, and to not be doing so in the future, is money. Unfortunately, the same financial constraints that force new mums back to work before they are ready will also deprive fathers of the option of spending more time with their new baby. Sadly, the financial realities of modern life will prevent many men from being the hands-on fathers they would like to be.
"With child trust funds cut and the removal of child benefits for high rate tax payers, family finances are under more pressure than ever. However, preparation can help ease the financial burdens of both paternity and maternity leave. Calculate how much you will need to survive, save money in readiness and cut down on household bills and unnecessary expenses. By keeping a tight lid on the household budget, new parents can make the most of the new rules without the fear of financial headache and debt."