Public-sector dads get a better paternity deal

MOST public servants will get full pay while availing of the new paternity leave, while a majority of private sector employees will have to make do with a maximum of €230 a week.

Since September, dads can take up to two weeks’ leave to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.

The new welfare payment is equal to the maternity benefit rate, meaning someone earning €900 a week would see their earnings slashed by over two-thirds if they take childcare leave.

However, the 100,000 employees in the health service are in for good news next month when a HSE directive will order full weekly pay for any fathers taking leave under the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act.

While good employers are likely to provide ‘top-ups’ to ensure fathers are not at a loss, most workers will have to rely on welfare payments alone – paid from social insurance contributions – if they take leave.

The Act provides for two weeks of paternity leave, which must be taken as a single continuous period within 26 weeks of the date of the birth or adoption of the child.

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development: ‘Paternity leave is a first step to support fathers to take a more direct caring role during those crucial first few months of a child’s life and its take-up should be encouraged by organisations.’