Would you and your partner take time off work if companies offered 6 months paid parental leave for all?

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Having a new baby is an exciting time regardless of whether you’re a mum or a dad, and spending time with them in those first few months is a precious experience. A year ago Aviva introduced its equal paid parental leave policy, where all employees can take up to 12 months off, with no need for mums to share their maternity allowance. With this in mind, Aviva would like to hear your thoughts on giving all parents the same amount of time off.

Here’s what Caroline Prendergast, Interim Chief People Officer at Aviva has to say: “We decided to make all parents at Aviva eligible for the same amount of paid and unpaid time off, regardless of gender, sexual orientation or how they became a parent. We thought that dads would want to spend time with their new arrivals, just as mums do. One year on, our experience shows that with financial barriers removed, they do just that.”

You can find out more about Aviva as an employer here.

If all companies offered 6 months paid parental leave, do you think your spouse or partner would be prepared take the time off work to share childcare duties? If not, why not?

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yes we would

My husband would have loved this, he was so involved from the start with the baby and after having a childhood her doesn't have fond memories of he wanted his DD to have more.
Even now as a shift worker and has made a flexible working plan so he can spend time at home with our little one.

I work for a company that has just launched similar - six months for men and women and luckily I work with my DP and father of my first baby (due next year)! We were overjoyed when this was announced, it means we can support each other, one of us isn’t left at home while the other struggles into work, he gets an equal chance to spend time with/bond with the baby and we can be a hopefully happy solid family unit! I think this is a great move.

Absolutely.

My DH would have loved this. He had 2 weeks paternity and 2 weeks annual leave with both our DS's.

He doesn't have a career that would mean taking that amount of time off would negatively effect him.

Yes, but that's a big financial burden for any company to provide

A big yes all the way. A great idea. Time with your baby in the first six months is precious.

I think six months would be too long for me and my husband to spend together without either of us working, and as for companies having to fund the leave I cant see that happening as I work for a large company and don't even receive sick pay, as for small companies how could they fund six months leave and afford to pay for someone to cover the absence.

Maybe not 6 months each but for the first month it would be helpful

its great it theory but a lot of families probably wouldn't be able to afford 2 parents being off work for 6 months. It's great for parents who could afford to though x

myself and my hubby would definitely have done this. We would probably have wanted to take 6 months each but not both at the same time. The only problem would be agreeing who took the first 6 months and who took the second

Yes, most definitely

Very individual decision, based on a lot of contributing factors. Though in principle a good idea.

Definitely my partner loves spending time with the children I think it would be a great idea. Some dad's miss out on so much. They should have the option to spend the first month's bonding and make memories.

It's a great idea, but the job I have is such that I couldn't really take six months out, it's a really small organisation and I'd end up doing work from home. If there was a legal guarantee that the jobs would remain open at the end of it, then we'd both leap at it.

DH is self-employed, so it would be easier for him to take time off. He house-husbanded for almost two years when his eldest was born, so that his ex could continue working, and he absolutely loved every moment.

Yes we would. It's important for both parents to have time to bond and build relationships with their child.

I love the idea, but it would have had to have been full pay for us to be able to afford for my husband to take any length of time off.

love the idea but think we would drive each other insane with all the pressure a new baby brings. might be more beneficial if we decided to go for number 2, I can imagine this being great then

I think this is a great idea and my husband and I would share if in that position!

If this idea had been around when we had our kids, my husband would have taken it up in a heartbeat! He hates his job (boring, manual-based work) so wouldn't have had to be asked twice!

It's a great idea, I'm all for it if you can afford it. I think my husband would go for it x

No, I don't think so

I think its a great idea, and would really help the mums out a lot, less pressure looking after the little one, as long as the money is right, its a fab idea,I wish my hubby had been here, It would have been great company for me.

It sounds good, but I think the time is so special for the baby and mother

Yes definitely, I think both parents need time to bond with their new baby and also to support each other mentally & physically. I would of loved my husband to have more time of with me