Backing for at least two weeks paid leave for new dads
NZ Herald 16 March 2016
Family First Comment: Discussing this with Paul Henry (TV3) tomorrow morning 6.50am
PAID FATHER LEAVE
• There are calls for fathers of newborns to get at least two weeks paid leave.
• “Father leave” was introduced in Australia in 2011, and is in place in a number of other countries, including Sweden.
• At present, dads are entitled to two weeks unpaid leave. The primary eligibility for paid parental leave lies with the mother. If her partner is also eligible then she may transfer all or part of her entitlement to her partner.
• Family First NZ has today called for paid father leave. In the past, the Families Commission has supported calls for such leave.
• Paid maternity leave will be extended to 18 weeks next month.
Fathers of newborns should get two weeks paid “father leave” to help them bond with their baby and support their partner through an often stressful time, Family First NZ say.
Family First NZ submitted today to a Parliamentary committee considering a parental leave amendment bill and, while supporting an extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks, also asked for paid father leave of two weeks rising to four weeks.
National director Bob McCoskrie said its own polling carried out by Curia Market Research showed 68 per cent of New Zealanders backed paid father leave.
“The period immediately following the birth of a child is demanding and difficult for mums, especially with sleep deprivation, recovering from childbirth, and coping with the existing demands of siblings,” Mr McCoskrie said.
“This will promote hands-on parenting by fathers, which is a good thing.”
READ MORE: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11606601
‘This will promote hands-on parenting by fathers’: Family First calls for paid dad leave
TVNZ 16 March 2016
Fathers to newborn babies should be permitted to two weeks of paid parental leave, says Family First.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/promote-hands-parenting-fathers-family-first-calls-paid-dad-leave
Should fathers of newborns get paid leave?
Otago Daily Times 16 March 2016
Fathers of newborns should get two weeks paid “father leave” to help them bond with their baby and support their partner through an often stressful time, Family First NZ say.
A number of countries have varying paid leave for new dads.
In 2011 Australia introduced a “Dad and Partner” pay scheme, that provides two weeks leave for most working fathers after the birth of a child, with a payment equivalent of the minimum wage.
The support is to help fathers bond with their child, take on more care, and help out mothers following a birth.
Family First NZ submitted today to a Parliamentary committee considering a parental leave amendment bill and, while supporting an extension of paid parental leave to 26 weeks, also asked for paid father leave of two weeks rising to four weeks.
National director Bob McCoskrie said its own polling carried out by Curia Market Research showed 68% of New Zealanders backed paid father leave.
“The period immediately following the birth of a child is demanding and difficult for mums, especially with sleep deprivation, recovering from childbirth, and coping with the existing demands of siblings,” Mr McCoskrie said.
“This will promote hands-on parenting by fathers, which is a good thing.”
READ MORE: http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/376501/should-fathers-newborns-get-paid-leave
Calls for paid paternity leave to help baby bonding
NewsHub 16 March 2016
Family First New Zealand is calling for paid “father’s leave” for dads, to help them bond with their baby and support mums through a demanding time.
Currently, the primary eligibility for paid parental leave lies with the mother. Dads are entitled to two weeks unpaid leave, but many struggle to take it.
Auckland dad of newborn twins, Ashley Giles, says he saved up his holiday to be able to take the two weeks leave after his wife Natalie gave birth.
“I took a two week holiday to be able to stay at home and look after my wife and take care of our babies,” he says.
“There’s huge pressures around being a young dad. A really big thing is being able to provide for your family, so if there’s a facility to be able to say, ‘We’ll take care of the pay for you’, and allows you to stay at home and take care of the babies and do what you need to as an additional carer for them, then that’s fantastic.
“It’s going to remove some of the barriers we’re faced with as parents.”
Family First made a submission to a Parliamentary committee today considering a parental leave amendment Bill.
READ MORE: http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/calls-for-paid-paternity-leave-to-help-baby-bonding-2016031619#axzz436BiY6pD
