Report calls for father-friendlier Britain

Young fathers in Britain should be given a greater financial incentive to become hands-on carers during their child’s early years, according to a new report.

The Equal Opportunities Commission-funded study, conducted by Dr Margaret O’Brien of the University of East Anglia, found that while British men are increasingly self-conscious about juggling work and family commitments, significant numbers fail to take paid paternity leave.

“It would seem the relatively low flat-rate payment has created a disincentive and new fathers are relying instead on annual leave,” said Dr O’Brien, one of the key figures in research into contemporary British fatherhood.

“British men increasingly want to be ‘good fathers’ but the Government may have to reconsider the current reimbursement rate for paternity leave to ensure an adequate financial incentive.”

Two weeks statutory paid paternity leave at £102.80 per week was introduced in Britain in April 2003 – some 30 years after Sweden. Disappointingly few fathers appear to be taking advantage of it, however. The Government budgeted for some 70 per cent take-up but initial research suggests far fewer new fathers are taking their two-week entitlement. Formal Government monitoring has not yet been conducted, but tracking of employer returns last year suggested a take-up of just 19 per cent. [This figure is probably an underestimate of actual take-up, as employers are not obliged to monitor paternity leave take-up. The real figure is thought to be more in the region of 60 per cent.]

The new report comes as the Government releases its consultation report on parental leave. Dr O’Brien reviewed father-friendly policies across Europe and found that countries where payment for paternity leave was more generous or earnings-related boasted greater childcare input by fathers.

Consideration should also be given to extending the period of paid paternity leave during the early years, said Dr O’Brien. For example, the four-week’s worth of ‘daddy days’ on offer to fathers in Norway since 1993 has proved very popular - with 85-90 per cent take-up recorded in 2003.

Dr O’Brien stressed that father involvement in the early years was vitally important. It not only helped men develop a strong relationship with their infant, but settled older children, reduced women’s feeling of overload, and even promoted breast-feeding.

But she warned against improving rights for fathers, while removing them from mothers.

“The real challenge is how you can bring fathers into the frame without taking away from mothers. We must not rob Peter to pay Paul. Fathers need an additional boost to encourage further involvement.”

‘Shared caring: bringing fathers into the frame’ by Dr Margaret O’Brien was commissioned by the Equal Opportunities Commission as part of a major new investigation into flexible and part-time working in Britain. From February 28 the full report can be found at: http://www.eoc.org.uk/cseng/research/Shared_caring_WP18.pdf