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Time off for dads

What rights do you have as a dad wanting to take time off with a new baby or because your child is ill? It seems there's still a long way to go before the UK comes into line with the rest of Europe. The charity, Working Families puts you in the picture with regards to The Work and Families Act

Rights for working fathers - getting it straight:

• Paternity leave describes leave offered to new fathers around the time of the birth of their baby. Eligible fathers can take two weeks, but may choose to take only one
• Parental leave is designed to give working parents more time off to allow them to look after their child (currently up to the age of five, or 18 if the child receives Disability Living Allowance). You must have parental responsibility for the child
• Time off for Dependants, or 'emergency leave' is to deal with an emergency with someone who depends on you, such as a child being ill or a breakdown in childcare arrangements

At present, fathers have few legal rights allowing them to take time off to care for partners or children.

Here is a summary of what the law says a father can have at present:

The situation	The right
Partner (includes same sex partners) giving birth to a baby	Unpaid parental leave - 4 weeks maximum
Sharing childcare	Unpaid parental leave - 4 weeks maximum
Baby unwell	Unpaid time off to deal with the emergency

Some workplaces offer more than this, but many do not.

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