Employers can provide paternity rights, say Christian Dads charity

The Government say they have heard evidence “that the current policies supporting fathers in the workplace do not deliver what they promise, despite good intentions”. A report from the Women and Equalities Committee is recommending higher paternity pay and 12 weeks’ leave for new fathers.

Mark Chester from Christian Dads’ charity Who Let The Dads Out told Premier he approved of the suggestions: “It’s easy to be critical and of course it’s good to review where we’re at but it’s really encouraging that we’re moving in the right direction for fathers and that fathers can balance work with being a dad.”

When asked if dads should get the same time off as mothers after the birth of their child he replied: “I don’t see why not, a child has two parents often and actually to give them both equal rights is a good thing.

“I’m sure there are challenges but I’m sure there are ways of working through it as well”.

He explained how, often, employers argue that it’s difficult to provide maternity rights but that they manage it because it’s the right thing to do: “I think the same is true for fathers, if we work through those challenges, the business will reap the benefits.”

Mark Chester said the most important thing was giving fathers flexible working, which he said is much more possible now that men are required to do gender-specific roles: “At one stage, fathers and men were needed…