Compared to most countries outside of Europe, the UK doesn't have a bad deal for dads wanting to care for new babies. In the US, mums get 12 weeks unpaid that she can give to dad if she has any left (unlikely). A little more generous, in Iran dads are given 2 weeks at full pay! A few developing countries have something in place for mums, but nothing for dads.
What's more, for a large part of it, his wages are also protected! So the family doesn't have to make the tough financial decision to let him take the time. Dads are taking the leave, and people, including their employers, are expecting them to take it! A triple win for the family.
The Nordics use two ingredients to make their pappa leave work.
15 Comments
14/11/2016 08:24:53 am
I live in Denmark. My husband was able to take 5 weeks off. He still has a lot of paternity leave left to take too. He's spacing it out rather than taking the whole time together. Scandinavia is very parent-friendly, not only with the parental leave, but the affordable childcare too. I hope my native Britain will take note. #EatSleepBlogRT
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Dave
4/3/2017 07:58:58 am
Hi Sarah - a wise move to have kids in Scandinavia on your part! I hope the UK will one day catch up too
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14/11/2016 04:04:16 pm
This is great. I'm so envious of the freedom you get in Sweden! We were lucky that our son was born just after the shared parental leave was introduces. So we both took 6 months leave each to make up the year... My husband enjoyed it so much he left work to become a full-time SAHP! the only downside is the low number of groups, and activities available for dads during the week! #EatSleepBlogRT
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14/11/2016 05:10:47 pm
Oh wow I didn't know about this either. My husband got just one week and even that wasn't full pay. It was especially hard as my youngest two were in neonatal for the first few weeks so we didn't get the benefit of any of his leave for bonding with the baby and the family at home. #marvmondays
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Dave
4/3/2017 08:03:23 am
That's really tough, sorry to hear that. It's a pity his employer couldn't step up and help out either!
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18/11/2016 08:10:09 pm
This is a huge deal. I completely agree that in the UK we dont do enough to encourage and support fathers to be able to take shared paternity leave. It is one thing having the infrastructure in place (the ability for fathers to take parental leave), but the biggest thing that we need to work on is the expectation and normalising fathers taking parental leave. There is a huge culture shift that needs to happen and you only begin to realise that when you look at countries like Sweden. I was aware that they set the bar high, but I had no idea on the details and find this information absolutely fascinating so thanks for sharing it on #MarvMondays. Emily
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Dave
4/3/2017 08:01:01 am
Thanks Emily! Really hope we can catch up with Sweden one day
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19/11/2016 03:20:24 am
What a great program! In Australia dads get 2 weeks leave paid at the minimum wage. The primary care giver (mum, dad or split) gets 14 weeks at minimum wage. It doesn't go far, but it's a start!
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19/11/2016 12:55:54 pm
I wish that the UK had a shared leave policy like Norway and Sweden. It really is only the financial constraints that stopped us sharing parental leave. My other half would love to take the time with the children but we just can't afford too #eatsleepblogrt
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Dave
4/3/2017 07:57:16 am
Totally believe it. It's a serious problem!
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21/9/2018 05:27:49 pm
Really interesting, and continued proof of the enlightenment of our Nordic friends when it comes to matters familial.#ThatFridayLinky
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24/9/2018 12:31:20 am
I've heard this before about Sweden and am jealous. Here in the States a man trying to get leave to bond with his baby is still looked at as absurd #thatfridaylinky
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AuthorI'm Dave, dad of Little Bear. Also known as 'Pappa' to the little man as we try and bring out his Swedish roots Categories
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