When talking about parenthood and parent friendly policies, a lot of the talk is aimed at mothers. But fathers are just as important! Our network is inclusive and open to all parents regardless of their sex/gender, and we wish to increase our network for fathers as well. This post hopes to inform you about Paternity Leave policies at Newcastle University, the support available and also other resources beneficial to all parents.
We tend to hear the words ‘maternity leave’ when talking about having children. However, in the past few years there has been an increase in discussion surrounding ‘paternity leave.’ Paternity Leave according to the Fatherhood Institute1 ‘is a partner-specific right to take time off work soon after the birth of a child.’ Paternity leave of course does not define a father, and indeed some fathers are in situations where financially they cannot afford to take it, as their leave is dependent on their partner’s earnings2. However, where partners are able to take the leave, it has been linked to them being more involved in childcare in the future3, and research has shown that there is a positive impact on the mothers’ well-being after birth4.
As such, NU is proud to have increased our paternity leave entitlement to 4 weeks at full pay. This is regardless of your length of service. You can read brief details of our policy below.
As our university continues to grow, we aim to become a more father-friendly university. If this is something that you are passionate about and would like to get involved please email Paula Fitzpatrick at paula.fitzpatrick@newcastle.ac.uk
Policies Available
Paternity Policy
Please note this is just an overview on the policy, if you are planning on applying for leave please read the Paternity Policy document for details on eligibility criteria and dates (it’s straightforward and an easy read). You can also check out this link for some quick fire FAQs.
The Paternity Policy is designed for colleagues who become parents. This leave is for colleagues to provide care after either a birth or adoption of their child.
Regardless of the type of contract you have, the University is committed to treating all colleagues equally in the same with respect to Paternity Leave and Pay. Some funding bodies are also prepared to suspend or extend grants to allow for Paternity Leave. To find out if this is the case you should first contact your Line Manager or Principal Investigator, as well as your local People Services Team.
As above, we offer 4 weeks (increased from two) of Paternity Leave at full pay from Day 1 of employment. You are also eligible to attend up to two antenatal appointments or pre- adoption appointments.
For more details, please read the Paternity Policy document.
Shared Parental Leave and Pay
This was created to allow eligible mothers, fathers, partners and adopters to decide how they want to share time off work after their child is born or placed with them. It is a shared amount of 50 weeks of leave which is divided between the pair. It can be used at the same time or separately.
SPL is created when an eligible mother or adopter brings their maternity or adoption leave to an early end (known as ‘curtailment’). The untaken weeks of maternity or adoption leave can be taken as SPL if the eligibility criteria for both mother/adopter and partner are met.
SPL can be quite complicated therefore here is the weblink which provides further information and clarification on this policy. There is also a Toolkit available which can support you in the application process.
Resources
Musical Football Fatherhood (MFF)
MFF is an online community for fathers and future fathers which has been hailed as “The dads’ version of Mumsnet.” (BBC).
A safe space where dads can talk, listen and learn from each other. No topic is untouched and ranges from mental health, balancing work and childcare to raising children. On their website you will find content for dads at any stage of the parenting journey! Regardless if you are an expectant dad, working dad, stepdad, single dad or even a grandad! They aim to provide a space for their dads and do this through their blog, podcast #DaddyDebates and community events, including monthly peer support sessions for new dads. They also wish to increase representation of diverse fatherhood and champion equal parenting and gender equality in the workplace, at home and in football.
The Hair Dad
The Hair Dad is run by Greg Wickherst, a single father who wanted to learn how to tie his daughter’s hair in a pony-tail. It took him one and a half hours to learn, and now he provides tips and tricks on how to style your daughter’s hair through his Instagram and YouTube channel. He hopes to inspire fathers to spend more time and grow closer with their children by learning a simple task which can lead to future bonding sessions.
Dad’s Delicious Dinners
Dad’s Delicious Dinner’s is a blog which is run by Ian ( a father) who shares his affordable home cooking recipes. He also discusses aspects of Fatherhood and does some cool Toy Reviews and fun activities for the kids. A fun place to look for easy meals to impress the family and also to share your thoughts on fatherhood.
Young Dads & Lads
The North East Young Dads and Lads started in 2015 with the aim of finding out how to support young dads (aged under 25), who live, work or study in the North East of England. A charity which has reached several young fathers, and provide a range of activities to support them. From individual help, to peer support to even providing educational classes on fatherhood, do check them out if you are a young dad.
References
- FI Research Summary: Paternity Leave: The Fatherhood Institute. (2021). Retrieved 17 August 2021, from http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2014/fi-research-summary-paternity-leave/
- Lappegard, T., 2008. Changing the gender balance in caring: fatherhood and the division of Parental Leave in Norway. Population Research and Policy Review, 27(2), pp. 139-159
- Haas, L. and Hwang, P., 2008. The impact of taking parental leave on fathers’ participation in childcare and relationships with children: lessons from Sweden. Community, Work & Family, 11(4), pp.85-104
- Redshaw, M. and Henderson, J., 2013. Fathers’ engagement in pregnancy and childbirth: evidence from a national survey. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13 (1)(70), pp.1-15. Available online. Accessed 19 March 2014.