Paid parental leave options increase for dads

More men have the opportunity to take paid parental leave as their entitlements increase in the workplace.

The Productivity Commission has found 50 per cent of Australian men have access to some form of paid parental leave, up from 31 per cent in 2002.

The 2007 report found 54 per cent of women can access paid parental leave, compared with 41 per cent in 2002.

About 75 per cent of fathers take leave of some form for an average of two weeks when their child is born. This compares with about 72 per cent of mothers who take leave for an average of 37 weeks, using a mix of paid and unpaid leave.

Many of the remaining 28 per cent of women who do not take leave resign from their job.

But the commission found 60 per cent of fathers are using annual leave to take time off to spend with their children.

Only 27 per cent of men took paid parental leave in 2007.

New father Andrew Gibki, 33, was able to take six weeks of parental leave in March to get to know his daughter, Alice.

He says the time allowed him to support his family and help with appointments and other day-to-day events to help them adjust to the new addition.

“There was a parental leave policy to take four weeks of paternity leave without pay and I was also looking to back that up with annual leave as well,” he says.

Mr Gibki, a graphic designer, says he was made redundant by his former employer soon after applying for parental leave, so he was at home with his new daughter for nine weeks before starting a new job.

“Now that I have found full-time work again, I’m seeing the benefit of being able to stay home and be supportive of my partner,” he says.

“The dads who take the bare minimum of a week off are really missing out.”

He says the amount of time many dads can take off is determined by the policies of the employer.

But if there is an opportunity to take time off, he encourages fathers to use as much of this time as they are allowed.

“You are only going to take the time off once, so use the time anyway, as you are lucky to have it,” Mr Gibki says.

Since January 1, fathers have been able to take up to 12 months of unpaid leave if they are the primary caregiver for their child.

The Federal Government legislation aims to give men an equal right to take care of their children and leaves the decision on who is the primary caregiver and the breadwinner up to each family.

Article from The Advertiser, June, 2010.

Also read: Moves to help Dad mind the baby