Two-week parental leave 'not enough time to bond'

Ben Allen became a father to his son Ajax in November 2024

Fathers in Guernsey and gender equality supporters are echoing calls from campaigners in the UK to improve paternity leave.

Ben Allen said that, although having a baby was "exciting and nerve-wracking", he wished he could have had more time off work to build a closer bond with his son Ajax, who was born in November 2024.

He said: "My mental health has taken a cliff-dive since my little one was born and I had to come back to work."

Peter Roffey, outgoing President of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said statutory leave entitlement reform was needed and he was asking the next government to look at it.

Mr Allen said he found it tough adapting to being back at work.

He said: "The first couple of weeks back, I was getting quite emotional. I was having to go off to the toilet to compose myself because it just felt like I was missing out.

"There were times when I didn't want to be here. I'd much rather be at home with my young family.

"While it's gotten better as time's gone on, I really do feel like if I had extra time with my young family, I do think I'd be more prepared to come back to work."

A group of MPs in the UK has said the statutory parental leave system is "one of the worst in the developed world" and has "fundamental flaws".

Introduced in 2003, statutory paternity leave, allows most new fathers and second parents in the UK to take up to two weeks off work.

In Guernsey, a mother has the right to 12 weeks' basic maternity leave, regardless of length of service or hours of work.

She is entitled to an enhanced period of 26 weeks leave if she has worked continuously for the same employer for at least 15 months.

However, there is no statutory obligation on employers to provide paid maternity leave.

Partners claiming maternity support leave have a statutory entitlement to two weeks' unpaid parental leave.

Roffey said his committee was "recommending to our successor committee [after the 2025 general election] that a review is prioritised early in the next term of government".

He said: "It's clearly very important that government does all it can to make Guernsey a family-friendly place to live – not just because of the positive social benefits, but because of potential economic benefits as well."

Parental leave rights

Jersey:

• Six weeks paid leave at full salary for both parents

• Statutory right to request flexible working

Guernsey:

• Two-week statutory entitlement to parental leave, but unpaid

• No legal requirement to give employees paid parental leave

• No statutory right to request flexible hours

UK:

• Two-week statutory entitlement to parental leave

• Paternity Pay is £187.18, or 90% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower)

• Statutory right to request flexible working

Louise Doublet says Jersey is a "trailblazer" for equal parental rights for mothers and fathers.

Louise Doublet, Chair of the Jersey's Health and Social Security Panel, said the island was a "trailblazer" for equal parental rights for mothers and fathers.

She said: "It's important for children to have both parents fully involved in their care from day one.

"We need to reduce the stigma around fathers taking parental leave. I know that this stigma still exists."

In 2020, Jersey approved new parental leave policies which would treat each parent equally.

Ms Doublet said: "As a society, we need to send a message to fathers that they are entitled to this leave, that they are needed in the home caring for their children just as much as mothers are, and that they should fully utilise their parental leave benefits."

Elliott Rae said around one in four fathers did not take any paternity leave

Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud, campaigning for equal parenting and gender equality, said he felt dads had become "undervalued".

He said: "I think our role in the family has been really minimized to a kind of provider protector role and we know that that is not enough.

"Around one in four dads don't take any paternity leave and that is devastating.

"That fatherhood-infant bonding experience is so important. We know from the research that one in 10 dads will suffer some symptoms of post-natal depression in the first six months of their child's life.

"So, if we're not giving that dad the opportunity and the time to bond with their child, they are more at risk of poor mental health."

Mr Rae said he felt that six weeks paternity leave should be given to new parents.

He said: "It's a bare minimum, but it's an adequate amount of time for that dad to spend time helping their partner, to bond with their baby, to look after their mental health, to understand the flow of the household."