Whilst you are entitled to your decision others are entitled to their views and the two are not necessarily reconcilable. Good luck to taking time out to be with your children, we desperately need more effective quality parenting, and maybe your job can be easily and cheaply switched to another employee but managing this within a SMB for critical employees must be an expensive nightmare. Who in their right mind would start a SMB with all of the red tape today ?
I can see both sides of the coin having been there. We made the choice to have children when I was employed, There was no paternity leave and the wife only had 6 weeks maternity pay/leave as that was all she was entitled to, we paid for child care taking 2/3 of her income in order to keep her job and a roof over our head. I don't think being at home make you a better parent than those working, it would be nice if you had a choice but not every one does. I was an employee and now a small bussiness (sole trader) because of the red tape I won't be an employer. long hours no leave in 5 years no sick pay provide your own pension (for what it will be worth) pay for own tools & ppe provide vehicle If i don't work i don't get paid, so why would I employ someone to do the same, would I change anything no I wouldn't, as father used to say "son u makes yer bed u lays in it".
When 'new labour' introduced the minimum wage back in 1999, it was received with utter consternation, condemnation and opposition from the caring Conservatives...many businesses said that they would go out of business and it was challenged at every turn. The policy was attacked as being 'socialist', as if it were a cancer or attack on business. Years ago, many families could survive on a single wage...for most, those days are gone, so Mums are back to work before their bodies have even recovered from giving birth. cue abuse.
They have to pay for all that non essential crap somehow. This is where Phill has it right, young children need their parents.
Whilst I completely agree and my wife didn't return to full time work after having our children. For many families living in more expensive parts of country that's just not possible, two incomes are needed just to meet their basic needs
supply and demand…………either increase the supply or these "basic needs" need to be cut back……harsh but thats the way of the world………….how else are we going to be able to afford 10.5 million on re decoration else….
im 43 and work full time shifts. work in aerospace to with jet engine internals. 2 weeks nights. 2 weeks days. 12 hour shifts. married but seperated. single parent. the 2 weeks of nights im neither use to man or beast. work/sleep/work/sleep... it be lovely to sit on my arse and not work do I want to instill that quality into my kids - nope
You didn't mention that you were separated, that explains why you want to spend more time with your children
in a kinda way I dont think its that relevant. I didnt mention anything earlier because I dont think i deserve the leave, or not as some may say, anymore than the next person...because of my specific circumstances. all I know is i qualify for it and am gonna put it to good use. it has been interesting to see the average attitude on here toward those that choose to be more family orientated. didnt expect some of that in this day and age. godda say.
Most of us were disagreeing with the proposed paternity leave legislation and the principle of the employer having to make provision to cover the employees absence. Not questioning your desire to be better parent.
I'm genuinely surprised at a lot of what’s been said here, one or two commentators making sense but certainly not the majority. Personally I don’t agree with Paternity or Maternity leave full stop It’s your lifestyle choice to go off and have sprogs, not mine or anybody else’s, so why expect others to pick up the tab You want to have X weeks / months off to look after little jonnie great go and do so, but take it as leave or resign first, by all means come back when you think you can spare the time if there is a job going but don’t expect me to hold that position for you, don’t expect me to pay any wages while you are not working. As a friend I’m delighted and happy for you and the new arrival As an employer I couldn’t give a rat’s backside, how many sleepless nights, how much it all cost’s, IT WAS YOUR CHOICE nobody made it for you.
Blimey, you lot have jobs where you have entitlements? There is a large proportion of the UK employed class that DO NOT have these perks I can tell you. If a person who works for me wants paternity/maternity leave they can have it - but there will be NO role for them to return too. You want time off, take it- and pack your bags too.
What rights? I and many others sold our rights to be ISP's Independent Service Providers - aka Contractors. It's quite amusing listening to staff types at many companies I have worked at, espousing at how few days holiday they have taken. Yeah right, they are either over loaded with work (see boss) or shite at their job (see boss). But they see it as a badge of honour, working for the global and thinking that their efforts are really appreciated. Mugs.
thankfully 2 penny bit back street shitholes attract the worst staff for those reasons and deservedly so. they have a good turnover of staff...and cant understand why there's no long term loyalty or commitment there. good employers are forward thinking employ the right staff and recognise rights and needs and without retribution
I appreciate that this thread started by asking should both parents have equal parental leave rights but seems to have switched into a question about whether anyone should have parental leave. If there are rights then of course they should be equally available to both parents. But....... Presuming you are running a small company with maybe less than 10 staff and you need to take on a new employee as your business is expanding. You have 2 people in mind and both appear to you to be equally capable and suitable but with one substantial difference. One is expecting to become a parent in the next few months and will want at least 6 months off work, the other is say 45 and has a grown up family and the only time off they need to discuss is a two week holiday in Greece. Which candidate are you going to employ in the best interests of your business ? Nothing to do the quality of the employer or where they are based in my opinion.
