Paternity pay

[AussieMum28]

Evening all,

Need some advice with paternity pay! My husband and I have both started new jobs while I've been pregnant. We've just found out he isn't entitled to paternity leave (even without pay) but has kindly been given 5 days - which we are super grateful for! The question is, should be take it all off in one week or take a day off for 5 weeks? What could you all suggest?

Many thanks xx

You will need him at home after baby is born and he needs to bond too so all at once xx

Paternity leave must be taken in a block.

It's not paternity leave though as he wasn't entitled to it. It is time off agreed with the employer out of goodwill. I'd still probably have it all at once

Official PL needs to be taken in a block, though probably at the employer's discretion if they wanted.

Definitely take all 5 days at once, unless you will have lots of live-in support from family or friends during the first week. Each mum and baby are different but I couldn't walk properly for a few days after delivery and the help DP gave me was much needed. It's also a lovely first few days together as a family :). Congratulations.

I'd have thought you would be offered that as 5 consecutive days. You're very lucky. We're in the same boat but my husband has only been offered 2 days off (although those are paid as far as I know).

Take it in one go. From our own experiences we wouldn't have done anything else. The first few days are such a blur and are full of sleep deprivation. I for one didn't want DH to go anywhere and felt totally reliant on him. This time he was going to take 2 weeks but I had a panic and now he's tagging on a week of annual leave so he's around longer (tbf this is our third though, one of which is still a toddler so different situation - with our first DH only took a week off).

Take it in a block, save holidays if possible and take them then too. Can he take a little unpaid leave if you have money to spare?

Can he work extra to build up toil? My dh didn't qualify but he was allowed to build up some extra time in toil and take some annual leave, just as well as we were stuck in hospital for 5 days.

Guess it depends on the career he has... what does your oh do?
In my case he's a teacher which is why he doesn't have the unpaid leave or holiday option...

Thanks for your help! He is a teacher and his head has offered to him just as 5 days for him to take when he wanted to. Definitely think taking it as a whole block would be better so you've just confirmed what I thought. Thank you xx

Ahh that makes sense. Best of luck! :)

Just think, after the baby is born, are either of you going to want him to get up the next day to pop off to work? Or the day after that? Or the day after that? Id defo say as a block but seems like youve come to that conclusion yourself!! Hes very lucky to be offered that