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MNHQ

Labour would double paternity leave, and raise it to £260 a week - what do you think?

176 replies

KateMumsnet · 09/02/2015 09:39

Hello all

Labour has announced plans for a "Father's Month" which will double paid paternity leave from two to four weeks. They've also pledged to raise paternity pay by more than £100 per week to at least £260 a week - equivalent to the minimum wage.

Do tell us what you think - are these changes to be welcomed? How, if at all, would they have affected your family's experience in the first few weeks with a newborn?

OP posts:
Rainicorn · 09/02/2015 11:17

This would have been great when I had my dc. DH would have taken the full month and it would have been ideal for us.

I appreciate it wouldn't be great for a lot of people, especially those who take a significant pay cut when on maternity/paternity leave though.

Titsalinabumsquash · 09/02/2015 11:21

I think it's a step in the right direction but still a huge drop from a regular wage. If they could bring in something that says an employer has to pay an employees regular wage (whatever that is for them) for 2 weeks then that would be great!

We can't afford for DP to take any paternity leave when DC 4 arrives in April, he earns more in a day that a weeks paternity pay atm so it's just not doable, he'll take 2 weeks as holiday instead. Hmm

Men should be there when their child is born, they should spend those precious first couple of weeks helping and supporting and employers should be encouraged to make it a possibility imo.

SnowWhiteAteTheApple · 09/02/2015 11:27

Gimmick, schools and hospitals need the cash far more than the luxury of paying two parents maternity pay. We already have a very generous system compared to many places yet lots believe SMP to be awful.

Typical labour though to try and buy votes by throwing money at people.

morethanpotatoprints · 09/02/2015 11:31

They also pledged to open and fund surestart centres again yesterday.
I heard on classic fm news.
I think you have to look at what a party has previously done to find where their main beliefs lie.
Its hard to know who to vote for though as they are all a bunch of liars and do what they want anyway.

Samcro · 09/02/2015 11:32

"Typical labour though to try and buy votes by throwing money at people."
hopefully they will start throwing it back at disabled people.

hoobypickypicky · 09/02/2015 11:37

"How the hell is that going to be paid for? It's a gimmick to sway voters but it's not good policy. It's hardly an unexpected circumstance after all."

This.

Business can't afford what it costs in time. The public purse can't afford what it costs in cold hard cash. It's a nonsense, a typical Labour party carrot to entice voters their way at the expense of far more important and essential causes.

Hamiltoes · 09/02/2015 11:42

That'll be labour spending money we don't have on more gimmicks then...

Still not interested in them.

clam · 09/02/2015 11:45

Oh, for flip's sake, WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS!!! Nice idea and all that (I suppose) but really? No, just no. It's up there with Gordon Brown's ridiculous "let's give every child £250 to instill the idea that saving money is a good idea."

Eminybob · 09/02/2015 11:45

I think that whether or not it's beneficial is purely down to what benefits the employer offers.

My DP got 2 weeks full pay, and I'm pretty sure his employer would offer the 4 weeks at full pay if this were to come into force.

If they didn't, we could probably use savings to cover the shortfall in income but I appreciate that not everyone can. If we couldn't then he wouldn't take it, or take holiday instead. It's nice to have the option though don't you think?

I would have loved to have DP off for a bit longer, as would he.

slightlyglitterstained · 09/02/2015 11:51

Given that the first 6 weeks of mat leave are at 90% of the mother's pay, I don't think it's unreasonable to just raise statutory paternity pay.

I think it's a good idea. The money wouldn't really prevent my or DH's colleagues from taking the leave - I work in an environment where I honestly haven't heard of any man who hasn't taken paternity leave, no matter how senior (private sector company, small company so statutory minimum but supportive of parents). However, for anyone on min wage this is likely to make a big difference.

Also like the plan to put money into SureStart again. As pp said, it's an election promise though & worth about the same as any other election promise!

Alanna1 · 09/02/2015 11:56

Not impressed from my own experience and that of friends although it would be nice if they actually showed the evidence behind the concept eg is it likely to increase breastfeeding rates in lower income groups, etc. I think they should have a "use it or lose it" period at the end of the mother's statutory paid maternity leave available to fathers for mothers who return to work.

Elllimam · 09/02/2015 12:03

:/ It wouldn't be a bad policy if we had a lot of spare cash. I would love to have my husband home for a full month after my next section. However we don't have the money and policies like this just illustrate labours spend happy ways. Put on circuses so we don't notice they've spent all the bread money.

expatinscotland · 09/02/2015 12:05

I think the Labour Party would stand a greater chance of success if they removed Ed Milliband as leader. He's as trustworthy as a pit viper.

Showy · 09/02/2015 12:11

Alanna, I thought there was a shared 26 week paternity leave option for mothers returning to work. Do you mean extend it? I think it's unpaid though sadly.

Sallyingforth · 09/02/2015 12:13

He's as trustworthy as a pit viper

I don't think that's a fair comparison.
Miliband doesn't deliberately lie and deceive like Blair. I believe he is actually sincere. His problem is just that he is out of his depth.

Having read his correspondence with Gibraltar, referenced above, it is terrifying to think that he might write similar letters on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.

slightlyglitterstained · 09/02/2015 12:14

"I think they should have a "use it or lose it" period at the end of the mother's statutory paid maternity leave available to fathers for mothers who return to work."

Alanna - now this sounds like a good idea. Never heard that suggestion before.

ShadowSpiral · 09/02/2015 12:32

So when are they planning on raising SMP to £260 / week then?

Or does having a lower SMP not matter because it's just women who get that?

DuelingFanjo · 09/02/2015 12:38

Here's what I think.

On the radio news reports today business leaders were coming out and saying that it would be terrible and businesses employing men would think twice about employing them if they were likely to have kids.

OH WOW - you mean like they have done with women for years?

Personally I think they should offer the same or similar time off to men (The 50/50 split they have now should be more than just voluntary) - that way men and women would be viewed more equally in the work place and every one would be effected by behind doors discrimination.

"I got less than that on maternity allowance. Are they going to raise the money the actual person who gave birth gets too?"

AND YES, THIS TOO.

asuwere · 09/02/2015 12:38

"Oh, for flip's sake, WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS!!! Nice idea and all that (I suppose) but really? No, just no. It's up there with Gordon Brown's ridiculous "let's give every child £250 to instill the idea that saving money is a good idea.""

THIS!

Complete gimmick to try and buy votes, but then after election, it'll be discovered that they can't afford it and "sorry but we did try!"
Most women who take maternity leave have to budget in advance and work out what can be afforded, I think it's the same for fathers and paternity leave - they have up to 9 months to plan/save for 2 weeks off, seems pretty reasonable.

(in my case, I wouldn't want DH at home any longer than he was and that was even after CS and PPH!)

Showy · 09/02/2015 12:39

Is it fair to compare it to SMP when we're talking about the early weeks of having a baby when maternity payments are calculated differently. Maybe that needs changing. Isn't SMP paid for 33 weeks too?

The whole thing needs overhauling I suppose.

expatinscotland · 09/02/2015 12:41

'I don't think that's a fair comparison.'

You're right. A pit viper is far more trustworthy and its actions are entirely predictable. It incapable of making false promises, spraffing nonsense and a far more effective leader.

RonaldMcFartNuggets · 09/02/2015 12:42

Eurgh, two weeks was enough for me of him 'helping' around when I was trying to recover and learn to breastfeed. He was glad to go back after 2 weeks.

moonbells · 09/02/2015 12:45

I'm another one who was livid because by saying this, they are valuing women half as much as men. Incredibly sexist and unfair.

Showy · 09/02/2015 12:50

I suppose my point is that improving paternity leave is not unfair to or discriminating against women. If maternity provision is inadequate, that is a fact all of its own. To be truly fair, I suppose we need parental leave and parental pay. ATM they are two separate systems for one shared life event.

Showy · 09/02/2015 12:51

moonbells, do you think statutory maternity leave at 52 weeks but paternity leave at 2 weeks is sexist and unfair?