Petition · past parliament
Extend Paternity Leave to 4 weeks for first time parents.
Closed
35 signatures
What the petition asks
First time father's should be given 4 weeks Paternity Leave, an additional 2 weeks on top of standard current paternity leave. This will allow both parents the neccessary time needed to adjust to this major life changing event.
Any new child to a family is a life changing event, but the first is a major life adjustment. It requires learning a host of new skills whilst under stress and sleep deprivation. Four weeks would allow more time to improve paternal relationships with the new child and reduce stress on the mother. This could reduce baby blues and other mental problems and potentially reduce parental splits. Caring for a whole new human being is a huge responsibility that justifies more than 2 weeks of training.
Timeline
| 4 Oct 2022 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 4 Apr 2023 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
35
Status
Closed
Opened
4 Oct 2022
Closed
4 Apr 2023
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.