Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions
Equalise paternity leave and pay entitlements with maternity leave and pay
Closed
75 signatures
What the petition asks
Paternity leave and pay entitlements (currently 2 weeks) should be made equal to maternity leave (52 weeks leave, of which 39 are paid). This would bring the role of a father (or significant other) in a child's life more in line both financially and socially with the mother or main care provider.
I recently became a father for the first time and my employers helped me to take paternity leave, but 2 weeks simply hasn't been enough. Mine and my partners’ lives were turned upside down in the best way possible, but 2 weeks is not enough to adjust to sleep schedules (or lack of), care duties, mindsets. My return to work has left my partner as the main care provider, and I also now risk missing key developments in my child’s life.
Timeline
| 3 May 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 17 Nov 2022 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
75
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
3 May 2022
Closed
17 Nov 2022
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.