Tim Worstall

Paternity Leave

Hmm. Not sure what the complaint is here:

An initiative to give new fathers extra time at home with their babies
was under attack last night after it was revealed that by the
government’s own estimates only 4% of men may take up the offer.

Family
campaigners said the admission showed that government attempts to
address work-life balance were being undermined and were no longer a
priority.

In theory, 239,000 new fathers can take advantage of
the move to spend up to six months on paternity leave. But figures
drawn up by the Department of Trade and Industry show ministers expect
only 10,000 men will benefit, because many are not entitled to leave or
cannot afford to take more than the statutory two weeks around the
birth.

So, given the choice, most men don’t want to take paternity leave. What then is the problem? Aren’t we supposed to respect the decisions that people actually take?

In

5 responses

  1. Bob B Avatar
    Bob B

    “An initiative to give new fathers extra time at home with their babies was under attack last night after it was revealed that by the government’s own estimates only 4% of men may take up the offer.”
    Never mind the quality – look at the attention-grabbing headlines.

    Reply
  2. Kay Tie Avatar
    Kay Tie

    “Aren’t we supposed to respect the decisions that people actually take?”
    Huh? Since when? (post 1997, that is)

    Reply
  3. Philip Thomas Avatar
    Philip Thomas

    The whole paternity/maternity leave pickle is an interesting one. Does anyone know how it applies to gay couples? For example, a lesbian couple through IVF have a baby. Do they both get maternity leave? Does only the bearer get it and the other “paternity” leave? What about parents who adopt very young children?
    It’s not that I criticise these modern developments so much as I see an awful lot of potential for equality problems and bizarre rulings.
    It seems to me that the more we open up who can have children, whether through artificial or adoptive means, the more it complicates measures such as this, which seemed more tailored for traditional nuclear family structures. It doesn’t strike me as very joined up government but then so little does these days.

    Reply
  4. JuliaM Avatar
    JuliaM

    “Aren’t we supposed to respect the decisions that people actually take?”
    Only when they take The Right Decision.
    They can’t just make up their own, that way lies madness…

    Reply
  5. Elina Rodrigues Avatar
    Elina Rodrigues

    I just think the local paternity/maternity leave is so backward and discriminating. Why not do what other more developed countries have already done, and decide on a maximum parental leave which can be split between the two parents. In this way they can take the best decision for their small economic unit–the family, and may also relieve the burden on the whole economy! My husband, if I stay at home, will never be able to pay the mortgage + bills. If I were to leave my job to stay at home, I will have to struggle at work later (theory is great, but practice is pretty crappy and quite discriminatory). The ideal case for my own family would be if me and my husband could share the parental leave, in this way we can both take turns to take care of the baby + will not have to depend all the time on relatives or babysitters. In addition, it is my husband who is working for the public sector, not me, and family policy in the public sector is much more tolerant and understanding. To be honest, this whole maternity/paternity law is a load of crap made for a society of housewives. So why aren’t they allowing for more paternity leave? Are they afraid their whole sexist system is going to fall apart??

    Reply

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