19 July 2019

Outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May has launched a consultation into the extension of rights for new fathers.

Proposals include increasing paternity leave and pay, or reforming the operation of existing shared parental leave rights, and providing additional paid leave for parents whose child has a stay in a neonatal unit after their birth.

The Institute of Employment Rights' Manifesto for Labour Law recommends that paternity leave is extended to a minimum of one month on full pay and that parents should be provided with up to three months of flexible, shared parental leave on full pay on a 'use it or lose it' basis. Further, we propose that all workers should have a right to flexible working except where its provision would involve a disproportionate burden on the employer or other workers, allowing parents to more easily share childcare duties.