More parental leave for fathers
Fathers are to get more parental leave under a new shake up of maternity leave legislation, reports the Guardian.
As parental roles continue to shift, and mothers are no longer always the one to stay at home and look after the baby, which was not reflected in the current legislation.
Fathers are to receive a higher rate of pay whilst on paternity leave. There will also be extra ‘blocks’ of time off for mothers and fathers which would be taken any time before the child’s fifth birthday, and the first eight weeks would be at 90% pay, although both parents could not take leave at the same time.
The new legislation are to be put into effect gradually over the next decade, and will cost around £5.3bn.