The majority of employers around the UK are failing to implement government enforced paternity rights, evidence from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has shown.
In partnership with international firm KPMG, CIPD’s Labour Market Outlook Report surveyed over 800 employers across the UK and found that only 40% of organisations offer working fathers two weeks’ pay at or near the full rate of pay, while 24% offer no paid paternity leave beyond the two week statutory level.
Under current guidelines, Statutory Paternity Pay is paid for up to two consecutive weeks, depending on how long employees choose to take Statutory Paternity Leave for. The current weekly rate is £124.88 or 90% of average weekly earnings, if less.
Additionally, parents of children aged 16 and under (or 18 and under if the child is disabled) are entitled to request to work flexibly, helping to balance caring for children and workload.
However, the newly formed coalition government is expected to introduce flexible parental leave, with both Conservative and Liberal Democrat election manifestos promising the change, allowing some parents to transfer maternity allowances from mothers to fathers.
But, with many already hesitant to adjust their policies for new fathers, the CIPD claims the government needs to reward both employers and their staff for accessing their statutory rights.
“The intractable challenge to both the government and employers lies in encouraging more working fathers to take up their entitlements to paid paternity leave,” commented Mike Emmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser. “If flexible parental leave is going to become a reality, we need a change in the reward policies of UK organisations that encourages more fathers to take their statutory rights.
“The new government will have to think imaginatively if it is to nudge and lead this change.”
If you need advice relating to any employment law issues, contact John Merry, partner and head of Lanyon Bowdler's employment team.