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Less than third of new fathers take paternity leave, research suggests

ParentingJuly 8, 2019
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Less than one in three new fathers take paternity leave, a study has found.

Research suggests roughly a third (31 per cent) of eligible new fathers used paternity leave in the last year compared to 32 per cent the previous year.

Using data collected from HMRC through freedom of information requests, law firm EMW Law also found that the percentage of men taking paternity leave has fallen for four years in a row, with the percentage standing at 34 per cent in 2014/15.

The figures contrast with the rising number of women choosing to take maternity leave, which the firm’s research found has risen by approximately 5 per cent in the last four years. 

The government is aware of this disparity and has introduced measures, such as shared parental leave, to make it easier for new parents to balance their work and family lives.

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1/14

“Happy Mother’s Day to 2 of the best mums in the world … Two women that lead by example and love with everything they have… myself and my sisters are lucky and so are our beautiful children .. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mums in this world @victoriabeckham @sandra_beckham49”, David Beckham wrote in a caption

David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

2/14

David Beckham’s post also featured a black and white photograph of himself and his mother, Sandra Beckham

David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

3/14

Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley shared a photo featuring her mother, Di, alongside the caption: “Happy Mother’s Day girl”

Stacey Dooley (@sjdooley)

4/14

To honour her own mother, singer Rita Ora shared a number of family photographs alongside the caption: “Happy Mother’s Day to the bravest strongest woman I know @veraora I love you Mum thank you for guiding me through life and always have a blast while you do it! Still to this day I learn so much off you! And yes that’s me staring at you in awe in the 5th photo and honestly that’s how I feel everyday! Oh and I’m the baby in the yellow lol”

Rita Ora (@ritaora)

5/14

For Mother’s Day 2019, actor Emma Watson shared a photograph taken by photographer Amanda Searle, writing: “Happy Mother’s Day weekend. If you’re in London, last day of Transparent Love exhibition at #BFIFlare is tomorrow. Love these photographs. #TransDayOfVisibility #MothersDay @amandas_photo”

Emma Watson (@emmawatson)

6/14

McFly’s Tom Fletcher urged people to donate to Save The Children UK for Mother’s Day. The caption read: “This #MothersDay, do something special for a mum who really needs it. 40,000 women who have been affected by Cyclone Idai are expected to give birth over the next six months. Food and clean water is in short supply and cholera reported. Help @savechildrenUK to respond to this unfolding crisis and donate to the @decappeal”

Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcher)

7/14

Jamie Oliver shared two social media posts for Mother’s Day, one for his wife, Jools Oliver, and another for his mother, Sally Oliver. Alongside a black and white family photograph, he wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day to my wonderful mum @sally__oliver what a great childhood I was able to enjoy full of love and fun thank you mum your the best forever grateful X x x. X x x x jamie o x x x x x”

Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver)

8/14

Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell referenced the band’s hit song ‘Mama’ in her social media post

Geri Halliwell (@therealgerihalliwell)

9/14

TV presenter Rochelle Humes posted a selfie with her mother alongside the caption: “Got it all from her (minus her love for a car boot sale) Happy Mother’s Day Mama. I love you endlessly”

Rochelle Humes (@rochellehumes)

10/14

The 30-year-old also shared a photo of a handwritten Mother’s Day card she received from her two children, Alaia-Mai and Valentina Raine. “Not sure I could want for more…” the caption read.

Rochelle Humes (@rochellehumes)

11/14

TV presenter Davina McCall shared a lengthy post dedicated to her step-mother, Gaby. She wrote: “Mothers come in all guises . They don’t have to be biologically connected to you . My birth mother wasn’t a mum to me. But two women filled that role . Pippy, my grandma and this lady. This is Gaby. She is my step mum , she has been since I was six. Being a stepmum has its challenges… but for me .. ( my real mum was an alcoholic ) she was my very much needed stability. I went to live with Gaby and my Dad when I was 13 and a couple of years later , started going off the rails. She was always there, solid, a rock…. and has continued to be throughout my life. She gave me my gorgeous little sis and is the most phenomenal wife to my Dad ( who has Alzheimers) So Gaby, Im so proud to call you mum . Thank you for everything I love you.@gabbamccall”

Davina McCall (@davinamccall)

12/14

Singer Robbie Williams paid tribute to his wife, Ayda Williams, writing: “Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mums out there, including this one”
Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams)

13/14

Jools Oliver posted a photograph of herself as a child with her mother alongside a lengthy caption in which she called her mum “an absolute legend”. Oliver also paid tribute to those who have loved and lost their mothers, writing: “happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful mums and as always to those who have loved and lost their mums and to those who wish to become mums or have little stars in the sky it’s such a hard day but let’s all support each other”

Jools Oliver (@joolsoliver)

14/14

Podcast host Fearne Cotton shared a photo of herself as a child with her mother alongside a caption in which she paid tribute those that have lost their loved ones. Cotton wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day Lin Cotton you ferociously loving, hilarious pixie. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums, step mums, and mothers we’ve lost. Thinking of @jessejameswood mumma Krissy today and sending prayers up above. Universal thanks to all the mums for the love, empathy, nurturing, understanding, comfort, multitasking, sacrifice, strength and resilience. Happy Mother’s Day”
Fearne Cotton (@fearnecotton)

1/14

“Happy Mother’s Day to 2 of the best mums in the world … Two women that lead by example and love with everything they have… myself and my sisters are lucky and so are our beautiful children .. Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing mums in this world @victoriabeckham @sandra_beckham49”, David Beckham wrote in a caption

David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

2/14

David Beckham’s post also featured a black and white photograph of himself and his mother, Sandra Beckham

David Beckham (@davidbeckham)

3/14

Strictly Come Dancing winner Stacey Dooley shared a photo featuring her mother, Di, alongside the caption: “Happy Mother’s Day girl”

Stacey Dooley (@sjdooley)

4/14

To honour her own mother, singer Rita Ora shared a number of family photographs alongside the caption: “Happy Mother’s Day to the bravest strongest woman I know @veraora I love you Mum thank you for guiding me through life and always have a blast while you do it! Still to this day I learn so much off you! And yes that’s me staring at you in awe in the 5th photo and honestly that’s how I feel everyday! Oh and I’m the baby in the yellow lol”

Rita Ora (@ritaora)

5/14

For Mother’s Day 2019, actor Emma Watson shared a photograph taken by photographer Amanda Searle, writing: “Happy Mother’s Day weekend. If you’re in London, last day of Transparent Love exhibition at #BFIFlare is tomorrow. Love these photographs. #TransDayOfVisibility #MothersDay @amandas_photo”

Emma Watson (@emmawatson)

6/14

McFly’s Tom Fletcher urged people to donate to Save The Children UK for Mother’s Day. The caption read: “This #MothersDay, do something special for a mum who really needs it. 40,000 women who have been affected by Cyclone Idai are expected to give birth over the next six months. Food and clean water is in short supply and cholera reported. Help @savechildrenUK to respond to this unfolding crisis and donate to the @decappeal”

Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcher)

7/14

Jamie Oliver shared two social media posts for Mother’s Day, one for his wife, Jools Oliver, and another for his mother, Sally Oliver. Alongside a black and white family photograph, he wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day to my wonderful mum @sally__oliver what a great childhood I was able to enjoy full of love and fun thank you mum your the best forever grateful X x x. X x x x jamie o x x x x x”

Jamie Oliver (@jamieoliver)

8/14

Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell referenced the band’s hit song ‘Mama’ in her social media post

Geri Halliwell (@therealgerihalliwell)

9/14

TV presenter Rochelle Humes posted a selfie with her mother alongside the caption: “Got it all from her (minus her love for a car boot sale) Happy Mother’s Day Mama. I love you endlessly”

Rochelle Humes (@rochellehumes)

10/14

The 30-year-old also shared a photo of a handwritten Mother’s Day card she received from her two children, Alaia-Mai and Valentina Raine. “Not sure I could want for more…” the caption read.

Rochelle Humes (@rochellehumes)

11/14

TV presenter Davina McCall shared a lengthy post dedicated to her step-mother, Gaby. She wrote: “Mothers come in all guises . They don’t have to be biologically connected to you . My birth mother wasn’t a mum to me. But two women filled that role . Pippy, my grandma and this lady. This is Gaby. She is my step mum , she has been since I was six. Being a stepmum has its challenges… but for me .. ( my real mum was an alcoholic ) she was my very much needed stability. I went to live with Gaby and my Dad when I was 13 and a couple of years later , started going off the rails. She was always there, solid, a rock…. and has continued to be throughout my life. She gave me my gorgeous little sis and is the most phenomenal wife to my Dad ( who has Alzheimers) So Gaby, Im so proud to call you mum . Thank you for everything I love you.@gabbamccall”

Davina McCall (@davinamccall)

12/14

Singer Robbie Williams paid tribute to his wife, Ayda Williams, writing: “Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mums out there, including this one”
Robbie Williams (@robbiewilliams)

13/14

Jools Oliver posted a photograph of herself as a child with her mother alongside a lengthy caption in which she called her mum “an absolute legend”. Oliver also paid tribute to those who have loved and lost their mothers, writing: “happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful mums and as always to those who have loved and lost their mums and to those who wish to become mums or have little stars in the sky it’s such a hard day but let’s all support each other”

Jools Oliver (@joolsoliver)

14/14

Podcast host Fearne Cotton shared a photo of herself as a child with her mother alongside a caption in which she paid tribute those that have lost their loved ones. Cotton wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day Lin Cotton you ferociously loving, hilarious pixie. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums, step mums, and mothers we’ve lost. Thinking of @jessejameswood mumma Krissy today and sending prayers up above. Universal thanks to all the mums for the love, empathy, nurturing, understanding, comfort, multitasking, sacrifice, strength and resilience. Happy Mother’s Day”
Fearne Cotton (@fearnecotton)

But very few people have actually participated in the scheme, with just 1 per cent of eligible new parents doing so in 2017/18.

Jon Taylor, of EMW, explained that taking time off work after having a child has become “an unaffordable luxury” for many, particularly given the cost of childcare.

“While the problem is particularly acute among gig economy workers and the self-employed, even those who are eligible for paternity pay still face a pay cut by taking time off,” he said.

“Shared parental leave is a very well-meaning policy, but it has not yet made any significant inroads into the issue of men being unable to take paternity leave. In fact, the gap between men and women taking time off for the birth of a child is actually widening.”

He continued: “Whilst some businesses may decide not to claim the cost of paternity pay from the Government (and therefore would not show up in the figures) it is hard to say whether that would make any material difference. 

“However, going on the official figures, it is worrying that the number has not moved in the last six years despite all the encouragement for men to take more paternity leave. That combined with the relatively low take up of shared parental leave calls into question whether ‘family friendly’ policies are really working.”



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