Families falling apart because of UK's broken' paternity leave, study suggests

"The campaign groups, The Dad Shift and Movember, said hundreds of thousands of families were falling apart as a result of a parental leave system described by MPs as one of the worst in the developed world. A survey commissioned by the groups found that 69% of single parents said the UK's two-week, low-pay paternity leave made it harder to share parental responsibility, exacerbating gender inequalities."

"Introduced in 2003, statutory paternity leave allows most new fathers and second parents in the UK to take up to two weeks off work. Those eligible receive 187.18 a week or 90% of their average earnings, whichever is lower. However, this amounts to less than half of the minimum wage for someone over 21 and disqualifies those who are self-employed."

"The cross-party Commons women and equalities committee said last year the UK's broken two-week paternity leave was one of the worst in the developed world and was entrenching a stark gender disparity with significant economic and social costs. In Spain, new fathers can take 16 weeks off work at full pay and in France working fathers can spend 28 days at home while being paid. Families in Sweden are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave, with 90 days reserved for fathers."

More than one in three separated parents link the UK's two-week paternity leave to their breakups. Campaign groups The Dad Shift and Movember report hundreds of thousands of families affected and a survey found 69% of single parents say the low-pay leave hinders shared parental responsibility and worsens gender inequality. Statutory paternity leave since 2003 allows most new fathers and second parents up to two weeks off, with eligible parents receiving 187.18 a week or 90% of earnings, excluding many self-employed people and paying less than half the minimum wage. Cross-party scrutiny calls the policy one of the worst in developed countries, while Spain, France and Sweden provide far longer, better-paid parental leave. Labour politicians are urging faster reform ahead of changes due next year.

Read at www.theguardian.com