NEW dads are no longer happy to keep mum about paternity leave inequality.
With 92 per cent of UK fathers holding down a job, many fear they are missing out on precious time with their baby.
Plenty of organisations have generous maternity leave benefits but few firms treat men the same.
With Father’s Day this weekend, data from insurer Zurich UK reveals half of new dads take just two weeks off with their child.
Statutory paternity leave is one or two weeks at £184.03 a week, making it impossible for many dads to afford more time off — and forcing a third to use paid holidays to bond with their newborn.
Research found the ideal amount of time they want to take off is 12 weeks, with two in five dads now seeking paid paternity leave above bonuses or higher salaries.
But progressive firms are starting to go further to support them and attract new staff.
Zurich offers 16 weeks fully paid paternity leave.
Chief HR officer Steve Collinson said: “It is important we level the playing field by offering an equal parental leave package.”
Will Edwards, 33, a head of department at Zurich, lives near Cheltenham with wife Lauren and their nine-month-old tot, Olivia.
He took 16 weeks’ paid parental leave when Olivia was born.
The extended period meant he could attend her hospital appointments without taking more time off.
Will said: “Having four months off fully paid was incredible.
“We were able to bond.
“I was able to witness how Olivia developed and changed, which I now realise is unbelievably fast.
“One of the niggling worries I had going off for 16 weeks was thinking the world would have moved on when I returned.
“While numerous things had changed at work, it wasn’t an issue.
“My manager, my team and the Zurich culture supported me.”
A joint report by charity Pregnant Then Screwed, think tank the Centre For Progressive Policy and awareness organisation Women In Data found increasing paternity leave could help align men and women’s roles in the labour market and reduce the gender pay gap.
NEW DAD INCENTIVES
THESE are among the best new dad incentives . . .
Consumer health firm Haleon offers fathers a market-leading 26 weeks of fully paid leave.
Virgin Media O2 funds 14 weeks. Housebuilder Bellway ensures statutory paternity pay is available from day one and its enhanced paternity pay has risen to four weeks after a year’s service.
Brewer Molson Coors gives ALL all new parents up to 52 weeks of leave, 26 of which are fully paid.
Vodafone’s Global Parental Leave Policy gives dads 16 weeks of fully paid leave.
- For more information and advice, see workingdadsemployerawards.com and workingdads.co.uk.
Red card on Euros absence
EMPLOYMENT experts are forecasting up to 3.6million people could call in sick on Monday following England’s clash with Serbia in the Euros, kicking off at 8pm on Sunday.
But Jayne Harrison, head of employment law at legal services firm Richard Nelson LLP, warns that hungover fans who pull a sickie could face disciplinary action – or even the sack.
She said: “If an employer thinks their employee has called in sick and it is not genuine – such as to recover from a hangover – they can investigate the case and may take disciplinary action over unauthorised absence.
“If a worker does lie or exaggerate an illness or injury for the purpose of getting time off work, when in reality they are fine, this would amount to gross misconduct and a fair reason in some circumstances for being let go.
“We encourage you to book annual leave instead.”
Eugene Tavyev, CEO of co-working venue Spacepool, believes bosses should have a positive plan to cope with staff absences.
He said: “The last thing you want to do if you are cautious of your team being off is to put your foot down harder than necessary.”
This is their advice . . .
- Encourage flexible working arrangements: Allow employees to work from home if possible or offer flexible start and end times. This may reduce the chance of your team taking the day off.
- Cross-train your team: Make sure multiple employees are familiar with each other’s tasks. This will mean areas are more likely to be covered if people are not there to oversee them.
- Give plenty of holiday notice: If you know there is a limited amount of holiday to be used on the same day, but that plenty of people will want the day off, give plenty of notice to your staff. If they forget to book it in, you have got a higher chance of an absence being unexpected, meaning you can’t plan ahead.
- Build a stronger team: The Euros will inevitably disrupt workloads across the country. But it provides an opportunity for teams to be stronger. We can’t stop it, but we can find ways of making sure it boosts morale instead of derailing it.
Jobspot
PIZZA chain FRANCO MANCA is recruiting for waiting staff, kitchen porters and supervisors. Find your local role at francomanca.co.uk/careers/.
NHS the No1 search
THERE are more than half a million monthly searches for NHS vacancies, making it the most popular choice for job seekers.
Despite worries about low pay, staff shortages, bureaucracy and limited resources, a study from Pace HR found people felt the positive aspects of working for it outweighed any negatives.
Tesco took second spot with 81,000 monthly searches. Job hunters highlighted the increase in the firm’s basic pay to £12.02 an hour, above the real living wage.
Asda came third with 52,000 and Royal Mail followed with an average of 48,000 monthly searches. Sainsbury’s and Aldi were joint fifth, with 43,000 searches.
A Pace HR spokesman said many of the firms have health and well-being strategies in place, going beyond meeting financial needs.
Jobspot
THE STEER AUTOMOTIVE GROUP is hiring for apprentice panel technicians, contact centre advisers and bodyshop managers. Search at steer.co.uk/careers-listings.
CV ‘not only way’
DESPITE a cooling jobs market, there has been a rise in the number of companies hiring for “no CV” roles.
These are entry-level positions where applicants can apply online, sometimes being interviewed on the same day.
A study by careers resource CV Genius showed the most common “no CV’’ jobs include waiting tables, retail assistants, baristas, fast food crews and kitchen porters. But there are also instant-apply positions for more professional roles such as data entry, content moderation and virtual assistants.
Aaron Case, senior career expert at CV Genius, said: “Although sending in a CV remains the most efficient and persuasive way to apply for a job, it’s no longer the only way.”