Paternity Leave

xlilkax · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:06 AM

Having issues with the husbands paternity leave. We can't afford to be paid that little for the 2 weeks so he only has 1 week off but his work has told him today that paternity leave starts from the first day off he takes that I go into labour!

I am about 99% sure this is not right. I know someone who had a baby recently who was 3cm dilated for a week so was considered in labour for a whole week who was having contractions on and off and she spent that whole time in hospital. Although I don't think that will happen with me it could do and I don't think it is very fair that all his paternity leave would get taken up by me being in labour.

Does anyone know if his work are right or if I am?

I looked on direct gov website and that says 'Paternity Leave can start on any day of the week (but not before the baby is born)'. So I'm guessing I'm right.

Only issue with that is if he does convince them that I'm right he's not going to get paid for his time off whilst I'm in labour which we can't afford.

Any words of wisdom please.

tweedy · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:11 AM

he can take paternity leave any time up to 6 months after the baby is born, but worth remembering if he takes time off to be with you in labour, it'll count as paternity leave unless he has made other arragements eg. using time saved in lui or annual leave.

xlilkax · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:16 AM

I don't get how that works though when it states that paternity leave can't be taken before the baby is born. So whilst I'm in labour it shouldn't be considered paternity leave.

Hmmmm. Never had problems like this when he was at his old job, they let him have paid time off to come with me to hospital all the time.

JuJuK · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:29 AM

Good question. Because if we are going into labour, then we'll want our men there!

With my fella's work, the minute he gets the call, he can leave work, but we've decided that if for some reason I have to stay in the hospital for a few days once the baby is born, he will go back to work until I am discharged.

I'd rather have him with me for 2 weeks at home as I'll have support in the hospital. Plus all he'll do is sit around my bed and it wont be proper family bonding time like it will at home.

Maybe for however long the labour/birth is, you'll just take that amount of time off the 2 weeks.

Although it hadn't actually crossed my mind - technically if PL doesn't start until the birth of the baby, you should get "free" days off during the actual labour?

It really annoys me that they only get 2 weeks off. Why should they miss out on their baby???

hulahoop09 · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:33 AM

I think paternity leave starts when baby is actually born and I would imagine anything before then is taken as annual leave or something?

I am having a c-section so hubby has booked 2 weeks paternity from the day I go in. We are going to struggle on the £128 a week for 2 weeks but have tried to save a little now to help us out. He was going to have 1 week paternity and 1 week annual leave but I told him stuff it have the time off and we will deal with the cash situation when it happens!!

xx

cait · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:34 AM

I don't think they are obliged to give him anything while you are in labour so they are saying he will either have to take that time as unpaid or else he can take it off the paternity if he doesn't want to miss out on pay (how generous of them....

). Either that or you can do the whole birth thing alone and he can get time off afterwards (eh...thanks!

)
Sounds like his old employer were a bit more understanding but that this one will only give what they absolutely have to.

xlilkax · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:34 AM

Only found out what paternity pay is about 2 weeks ago, so we had to change his leave from 2 weeks to 1. It's upset me having to do that but we wouldn't be able to survive on that little amount of money so it had to be done and then to find out that really the leave is guna be shortened even more it has really annoyed me.

We aren't able to take the leave after I come out of hospital if I have to stay in because the 7days leave has to be consecutive and seeing as the first day of leave will be when I go into labour it will start from then. Which doesn't seem right because once the baby is born they are only allowed in during visiting hours and the point of paternity leave is to care for the mother and baby.

xlilkax · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cait

I don't think they are obliged to give him anything while you are in labour so they are saying he will either have to take that time as unpaid or else he can take it off the paternity if he doesn't want to miss out on pay (how generous of them....

). Either that or you can do the whole birth thing alone and he can get time off afterwards (eh...thanks!

)
Sounds like his old employer were a bit more understanding but that this one will only give what they absolutely have to.

Yeah I think you hit the nail on the head there. It did help that at his old work his manager was pregnant too so they were quite willing to let him have paid time off for midwife appointments, me being in hospital etc.

cait · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:43 AM

It's really crap how little respect there is for fathers in this whole process. We are lucky that my OH's bosses both have young kids so they have given him time off for hospital appointments so far, and I think they'll be ok with the labour time too. He is taking one week paternity and one week annual leave once baby arrives though as they pay is so poor.

here's hoping you have a very speedy birth over a weekend and are home by Monday for him to start his official leave then x

Jollybean · Aug 15th, 2011, 04:49 AM

him taking the day off to attend labour is paternity as far as i am aware. Thing is. If it turns out to be false labour, he can return to work and take paternity when needed. The leave and pay will start whenever he isn't in work x

Aug 15th, 2011, 04:06 AM	#1
xlilkax Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 161	Paternity Leave Having issues with the husbands paternity leave. We can't afford to be paid that little for the 2 weeks so he only has 1 week off but his work has told him today that paternity leave starts from the first day off he takes that I go into labour! I am about 99% sure this is not right. I know someone who had a baby recently who was 3cm dilated for a week so was considered in labour for a whole week who was having contractions on and off and she spent that whole time in hospital. Although I don't think that will happen with me it could do and I don't think it is very fair that all his paternity leave would get taken up by me being in labour. Does anyone know if his work are right or if I am? I looked on direct gov website and that says 'Paternity Leave can start on any day of the week (but not before the baby is born)'. So I'm guessing I'm right. Only issue with that is if he does convince them that I'm right he's not going to get paid for his time off whilst I'm in labour which we can't afford. Any words of wisdom please.

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Aug 15th, 2011, 04:11 AM	#2
tweedy Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 810	he can take paternity leave any time up to 6 months after the baby is born, but worth remembering if he takes time off to be with you in labour, it'll count as paternity leave unless he has made other arragements eg. using time saved in lui or annual leave.

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Aug 15th, 2011, 04:16 AM	#3
xlilkax Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 161	I don't get how that works though when it states that paternity leave can't be taken before the baby is born. So whilst I'm in labour it shouldn't be considered paternity leave. Hmmmm. Never had problems like this when he was at his old job, they let him have paid time off to come with me to hospital all the time.

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Aug 15th, 2011, 04:29 AM	#4
JuJuK Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Derby, UK Posts: 90	Good question. Because if we are going into labour, then we'll want our men there! With my fella's work, the minute he gets the call, he can leave work, but we've decided that if for some reason I have to stay in the hospital for a few days once the baby is born, he will go back to work until I am discharged. I'd rather have him with me for 2 weeks at home as I'll have support in the hospital. Plus all he'll do is sit around my bed and it wont be proper family bonding time like it will at home. Maybe for however long the labour/birth is, you'll just take that amount of time off the 2 weeks. Although it hadn't actually crossed my mind - technically if PL doesn't start until the birth of the baby, you should get "free" days off during the actual labour? It really annoys me that they only get 2 weeks off. Why should they miss out on their baby???

Status: Offline

Aug 15th, 2011, 04:33 AM	#5
hulahoop09 Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: West Midlands, UK Posts: 11,422	I think paternity leave starts when baby is actually born and I would imagine anything before then is taken as annual leave or something? I am having a c-section so hubby has booked 2 weeks paternity from the day I go in. We are going to struggle on the £128 a week for 2 weeks but have tried to save a little now to help us out. He was going to have 1 week paternity and 1 week annual leave but I told him stuff it have the time off and we will deal with the cash situation when it happens!! xx

Status: Online

Aug 15th, 2011, 04:34 AM	#6
cait Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,045	I don't think they are obliged to give him anything while you are in labour so they are saying he will either have to take that time as unpaid or else he can take it off the paternity if he doesn't want to miss out on pay (how generous of them....). Either that or you can do the whole birth thing alone and he can get time off afterwards (eh...thanks! ) Sounds like his old employer were a bit more understanding but that this one will only give what they absolutely have to.

Status: Offline

Aug 15th, 2011, 04:43 AM	#9
cait Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,045	It's really crap how little respect there is for fathers in this whole process. We are lucky that my OH's bosses both have young kids so they have given him time off for hospital appointments so far, and I think they'll be ok with the labour time too. He is taking one week paternity and one week annual leave once baby arrives though as they pay is so poor. here's hoping you have a very speedy birth over a weekend and are home by Monday for him to start his official leave then x

Status: Offline

Aug 15th, 2011, 04:49 AM	#10
Jollybean Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Hampshire Posts: 1,253	him taking the day off to attend labour is paternity as far as i am aware. Thing is. If it turns out to be false labour, he can return to work and take paternity when needed. The leave and pay will start whenever he isn't in work x

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