paternity leave.

kronas · 17-06-2005, 03:19

the EOC is planning on sending tony blair a message for fathers day give dads more time off....

infact the equal oppertunties commission is to highlight an issue that is affecting more and more couples, paternty leave, currently for men it is two weeks at Ã‚Â£106.

however the EOC states that it wishes to ask for this to be raised to one month and at the cost of two hundered pounds per week.

so what do you all think ? should this new generation be allowed more time off work ? increasingly it does seem men want to take on a role in the baby's primitive life...

source: BBC news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4096156.stm

gooner4life · 17-06-2005, 07:42

I got 14 working days (3 weeks) paid in full by NTL when my son was born last year.

The 15th working day was a Statutory Day Off anyway so I ended up with 3 full weeks fully paid off.

At the very least it should be the minimum fathers get, nothing compares to them first few weeks with your child.

etccarmageddon · 17-06-2005, 08:33

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

STONEISLAND · 17-06-2005, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

Dude why is it a luxury? Its natrul.

You may think diffrent when you have one.

Scarlett · 17-06-2005, 08:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

I suppose you could classify it as a luxury, you pay a lot for it and you don't really need it (especially when neighbours want to chat about your child, that football and their greenhouse. )

However, if you look at what it costs to raise a child to 18 (into the Ã‚Â£100K last time they checked I believe) and the amount of VAT paid over that time then 3 weeks paid holiday is nothing compared to what they will have to pay out extra for the child. all that VAT will go to the government so they are not exactly getting it free.

Mr_love_monkey · 17-06-2005, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

You could say that about most things - I don't cycle, why should my taxes pay for cycle lanes - I haven't been to the hospital for ages, why should I pay for other people to go?

I don't see anything wrong with father getting paternity leave - if anything it should be encouraged, to try and get rid of the old 'hands off' father model that most people 20 years ago had

**Stuart C** · 17-06-2005, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

The thing is, it may be considered a luxury for individual people, but when you combine the slowdown in births with an increase in the life expectancy of the average person (I believe these two are happening now), you will end up with a decreasing number of people of working age supporting an increasing amount of pensioners*. Looked at this way, I don't think it's a luxury for society. It's a necessary part.

Anything that enables or encourages more couples to have babies is good IMO.

*BTW, you may think you are paying for your own old age through NI and pension contributions, but the way the government works, your NI is subsidising the pensioners of today.

SMHarman · 17-06-2005, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

why should other people subsidise the luxury of having a baby?

I can see where you're coming from when you say this but reproduction is a rather essential requirement of the continuing existance of the human race. These children in time will become active tax payers in the economy as you come up for retirement and may start to rely on the state for more. The higher the workers/retirees ratio the better health the nation will be in.

Angua · 17-06-2005, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

I can see where you're coming from when you say this but reproduction is a rather essential requirement of the continuing existance of the human race. These children in time will become active tax payers in the economy as you come up for retirement and may start to rely on the state for more. The higher the workers/retirees ration the better health the nation will be in.

We are rapidly reaching a point where the minority who are working will be less even than those who are retired/over 60.

Halcyon · 17-06-2005, 10:47

I definately think fathers should have the same right and get to have a decent time off. Its important for both the mother and father.

zovat · 17-06-2005, 11:03

I am all for this - but I am lucky in that my employer gives me 2 weeks full paid leave (which I have just returned from).

Some companies cannot afford to give their employees extra leave, so the government helping them out is a good thing as far as I am concerned..

**Maggy J** · 17-06-2005, 11:56

Anything that encourages the idea of parenting gets my vote..

kronas · 17-06-2005, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Anything that encourages the idea of parenting gets my vote..

i back the idea itself because as long as the father will help the child and mother during this time to settle in to some form of routine its a good thing.

some couples may decide one partner stays at home the other works, so if it happens to be the father then its beneficial, or if its the mother they she will retain her rights, however i think the plan is ideal for first time mothers, i dont believe having a baby is easy!

**Maggy J** · 17-06-2005, 19:27

It's very,very,very hard work being a new mother even if the birth has gone well.Not every young mother has a mother or family to rely on.I certainly didn't and my husband was at sea on 'naval exercises'.I had a tough time.

punky · 17-06-2005, 21:17

Paternity leave is very important, because it seems the emphasis is still on the mother to do the raising. This is wrong. Men shouldn't be shut out because they are relied upon to be the wage earner. They should be given proper time to bond and learn to raise their children like their mothers are. One month isn't anywhere near enough.