additional paternity leave - at last!

Pete111

ninky wrote: »

no smp is due until the baby reaches 39 weeks. they can then take totally unpaid leave to total up to 6 months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/8426314/Fathers-win-new-paternity-rights.html

But fathers won't be able to step in from day one. They will only be able to take this additional leave once their baby reaches four months (20 weeks). If at this point the mother choose to go back to work the father can collect the statutory maternity pay to which she would have been entitled. This is paid at £128.73 a week and is payable until the child reaches 39 weeks. At this point any additional leave is unpaid, whether it is the father or mother taking this time off.
Men granted this leave will be allowed a maximum of 26 weeks – during which their employer has to keep their position open.

Sorry you've lost me Ninky. My post stated that APL cannot start until 20 weeks after the birthdate - or were you agreeing with me?!

Ah. Wait. You are refering to SMP only. My point was in relation to Company Mat pay at Ultra Wombles place of work which runs up to 26 weeks - different kettle of fish entirely.

Pete111

ILW wrote: »

Not if it sends businesses to the wall.

Having to keep a position open for 6 months could destroy many small enterprises.

But they already do for Mat leave.....or are we back to the whole 'small businesses know not to employ younger women' thing

ninky_2

Pete111 wrote: »

Sorry you've lost me Ninky. My post stated that APL cannot start until 20 weeks after the birthdate - or were you agreeing with me?!

Ah. Wait. You are refering to SMP only. My point was in relation to Company Mat pay at Ultra Wombles place of work which runs up to 26 weeks - different kettle of fish entirely.

yes indeed. afaik these new rules don't entitle men to company mat pay - but i believe the rules are going to continue to change to bring us more in line with other european countries so this may change too. from what i can see the main difference is an employer will be asked to keep a man's job open for up to six months to allow them to take this leave. the payment is smp from the state.

ninky_2

ILW wrote: »

Not if it sends businesses to the wall.

Having to keep a position open for 6 months could destroy many small enterprises.

why is it going to send small business to the wall? for every man taking this leave there is a woman returning to the workplace.

Malcolm.

ILW wrote: »

Not if it sends businesses to the wall.

Having to keep a position open for 6 months could destroy many small enterprises.

It's better than having to keep a job open for 12 months.

I can see firms which only employee men being disadvantaged. Otherwise isn't the change pretty much cost neutral in expense?

pelirocco

ninky wrote: »

financial hit to whom? not all men earn more than their partners.

Isnt spp / smp 90% of gross pay or £124 odd , which ever is the lowest ?



At least it is one payment companies can claim back , unlike ssp
However as a business owner having someone off work for 6 months would be a problem for us , if they did certain jobs

ninky_2

ultrawomble wrote: »

So, do we think that a father of a child with a stay-at-home mum has reduced paternity leave rights?

one step at a time. i guess people need time to adjust. hopefully this will just be a start.

i suspect civil partnerships / same sex relationships have a lot to be thanked for this change. with same sex adoptive dads being allowed up to a year parental leave it seems a bit unfair not to let bio dads have some parental leave rights.

ninky_2

it would really make me smile if someone has only hired men to avoid maternity leave and then gets their male employees taking up their paternity leave rights.:beer:

ILW

ninky wrote: »

why is it going to send small business to the wall? for every man taking this leave there is a woman returning to the workplace.

A micro business with just a few employees can be destroyed if a key member (probably all of the employees) takes 6 months leave. You cannot recruit a decent replacement on a very short contract and probably cannot train anyone up just to let them go. I believe small companies should be exempt from this type of legislation.

ultrawomble

ninky wrote: »

one step at a time. i guess people need time to adjust. hopefully this will just be a start.

I actually think it is very divisive. Dual income couples get 26 weeks of paternity leave. Single income couples (working father) get 2 weeks of paternity leave.