Compensation & Benefits: Extension to paternity leave revisited – employers fear administrative burdens and scope for fraud

January 9, 2009

The government will shortly be consulting on proposals to allow fathers to “share” some of a mother’s maternity leave entitlement.

Currently fathers are entitled to 2 weeks paid paternity leave whereas mothers are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave of which up to 39 weeks are paid.  The UK government recently rejected proposals to provide fathers with a separate right to paternity leave of up to six months.  (See Related Article link below).

The proposals will only apply to parents with children due on or after 3 April 2011.  The proposals include:

The intention is to give parents greater choice and flexibility regarding use of maternity and paternity leave while minimising the administrative burden on employers.  However, in previous consultation employers raised concerns about the administrative burdens, and the scope for fraud arising from the father’s ability to self-certify their entitlement to the extended leave.  So far, the government has given no indication of how it intends to address those concerns.

Related article

Paternity extension shelved 22 July 2009

For further information or to discuss the issues raised, please contact Colina Greenway (colina.greenway@abbisscadres.com) on +44 (0) 203 051 5711.

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