Paternity leave policies across Europe have emerged as a significant issue, with a recent report indicating that the United Kingdom provides one of the least generous offerings for new fathers in the developed world. In the UK, full-time working dads are allowed a mere two weeks of statutory leave after the birth of their children, and this is contingent upon having a qualified income. In comparison, countries like Spain, France, Denmark, Poland, and Sweden have made notable advancements in paternity leave provisions for fathers, adjusting their policies in favor of increased support for family bonding and parental responsibilities.
Jamie Fox, a father in the UK, encountered challenges when his first child was born. Despite his desire to support his partner, he found himself limited due to the short statutory paternity leave. He attended the first-ever "dad strike" recently to advocate for better policies, expressing his concern over the UK's stagnant paternity leave compared to improvements in other European nations.
For instance, in Spain, new fathers are now entitled to 16 weeks of paid leave—a significant improvement from the five weeks previously offered. Octavio, a Spanish dad, highlighted the positive impact the longer leave period has had on his bond with his children. Meanwhile, in France, Antoine benefited from an increase in paternity leave from two weeks to four weeks, allowing him to engage more with his family during essential early life moments.
Denmark offers one of the most generous policies, allowing fathers to take 24 weeks off at full pay, with options for transferring part of that leave to partners. André, who experienced this firsthand, praised the cultural expectation for fathers to play a significant role right from the beginning. In Poland, while the two weeks of leave is at full pay, dads can take an additional nine weeks of parental leave at a reduced rate, which can be crucial for balancing family income when adjusting after maternity leave.
Sweden stands out with its pioneering parental leave system, allowing 480 days to be shared between parents, with specific days reserved for fathers. Mattias from Stockholm noted how he could share responsibilities with his partner early on, enhancing their capacity to adapt to parenthood as a team.
Despite the glow of progressive paternity leave policies abroad, a report by the UK’s Women and Equalities Committee urged the government to raise statutory paternity pay and extend leave duration in response to living costs and the evolving dynamics of parenting. Many dads remain unaware of their available entitlements under shared parental leave policies, leading to even fewer utilizing this option. As part of ongoing discussions, governmental reforms are being reviewed to ensure that new fathers can receive better support in the future.
