A new report from the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Bath calls on the UK government to introduce six weeks of well-paid leave for fathers in their baby’s first year, arguing the move would promote gender equality, support working families and boost economic growth.

Currently, fathers in the UK are entitled to just two weeks of leave, often poorly paid. As a result, women continue to shoulder most of the care burden after childbirth.

The report finds that extending the paternity leave earmarked for fathers to six weeks - paid at 90% of average earnings and available from day one of employment - could deliver net social benefits of up to £12.8 billion annually.

Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg from the Department of Economics said:

This is a win for families, businesses and the economy. Fathers want to be more involved and mothers want to stay connected to work. The current system lets everyone down. We’re calling for a policy that matches what modern parents want. Six weeks of well-paid leave is a simple and cost-effective place to start.

Key Findings

  • In the UK women’s employment drops by 15 percentage points around childbirth. Men’s work patterns remain unchanged.
  • International evidence from Quebec, Sweden and Iceland shows that dedicated, well-paid leave for faythers leads to greater sharing of care, earlier returns to work by mothers, and long-term equality gains.
  • Businesses can benefit too - from improved staff retention, employee wellbeing and productivity.

The report also highlights that the UK’s Shared Parental Leave (SPL) system has failed. Take-up remains low, due to poor pay, complexity and rigid eligibility rules.

Top Recommendations

  • Introduce six weeks’ flexible leave for fathers, paid at 90% of average earnings (capped at £1,200/week), available from day one of employment, and taken within the baby’s first year.

  • Other recommendations include aligning paternity and SPL policies and exploring how solo leave for fathers can shift workplace and household norms.

Co-author Dr Alistair Hunt from the Department of Economics said:

Six weeks of well-paid leave for dads in their baby’s first year is a crucial first step—but real progress on gender equality will take smart policy design and a cultural shift in how we view caregiving. Encouraging fathers to take leave at different times, not just alongside mothers, is key to lasting change.

Dr Jeremy Davies, Deputy CEO at the Fatherhood Institute and head of its ‘6 Weeks for Dads’ campaign, said:

The UK’s statutory paternity offer has been at the bottom of the international league table for far too long. This important new research confirms that the benefits of a better-designed system could be huge. We call on the Government to give this the attention it deserves, in its forthcoming review of the parental leave system.

Simon Kelleher, Head of Policy and Influencing at Working Families said:

At Working Families, we regularly hear from parents about the need for better parental leave. This new research shows the wider economic and societal benefits of improved statutory paternity leave. Many progressive employers, recognized through our Family Friendly Workplaces Certification, already lead the way. To truly level the playing field, we must strengthen statutory paternity leave so all workers can access the support they need in their child’s first year.