Is unpaid fathers' leave a good idea?

In the future new fathers could get six months unpaid leave to care for their baby.

At present mothers get six months paid maternity leave, and if they want, they can take another six months unpaid leave.

The new Government plans could give fathers the option to take the second six months off with the mother returning to work.

New fathers can now also take two weeks' paid paternity leave, and parents of children under six can have flexible working arrangements.

Is unpaid fathers' leave a good idea? Send us your views using the postform.

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received:

My husband and I chose not to have children. But it seems every way we turn we are being punished. Several of my colleagues children have been ill recently, who had to hold the fort the ones without children. Should fathers get paid paternity leave. NO!
Rachael, Nottingham

We need to nurture our children, they are the future of our society Dino, UK

Surely having the choice (to take the time off unpaid) is a good thing? It is one of the things of living in a community that this type of support exists for people, if you resent options like this, because you *choose* to not have kids, go and live a life as a hermit. We need to nurture our children, they are the future of our society.
Dino, UK

The only reason we are discussing this is because of the attitude of UK employers towards their staff. Specifically the lack of trust that employers have in their workforce which means they refuse to allow people to work from home because they tar us all with the same brush and expect us to be sitting watching daytime telly instead of working. Our European cousins assume trust from the workforce until they disprove it themselves. If UK employers could get over their prejudices about their own staff we would not need maternity or paternity leave at all.
David Howe, Chelmsford UK

No. It would be better if employers would be more flexible in allowing time off work / flexible working to enable people to put their families first.
Alex Morgan, London, UK

What a great idea! then all of the single workers can do their work (unpaid, naturally) as we already have to do for those on maternity leave, as well as the normal glut of parental absences for sick kids, school plays etc. Add to this the normal problem in bidding for leave that "those with kids should get first choice" discrimination. Oh, and before this draws the usual predictable responses, remember that those who do not take maternity/ paternity leave are paying the taxes and council tax that pay for your child's schooling, child benefit, tax credits etc.
Scott, Scotland

Once again it seems those without children will be expected to pick up the pieces John B, UK

Personally I welcome, within reason, measures to help families cope with the upheaval of the new arrival. However, once again it seems those without children will be expected to pick up the pieces when someone decides to take off for many months. It's all very well letting people have time with their new family but there has to be a balance, and simply telling a small business to hire a temp just doesn't cut it, especially where the new parent is a highly skilled worker. Large companies can absorb the absence more easily than a small company - how can any firm survive when faced with 20% of their workforce away, having to hold their job for them with no guarantee they will come back to it and trying to find adequately skilled temps at relatively short notice?
John B, UK

Why should fathers get the same rights as mothers as people are saying on here. I am STILL paid less than my male colleagues, so when that is rectified, men can expect some kind of equal rights. Don't expect it anytime soon.
Sandy, UK

I don't think either mothers or fathers should get paid leave at all. This system penalises those of us that choose not to have children because we can't afford it or indeed those that cannot have them. Can I have three weeks paid leave for doing a good deed and adopting three kittens?!
Ahmed, Hailsham, UK

It amazes me to read comments like "Businesses will suffer" - talk about poor work/life balance. Children are the future of mankind. What business is more important?
Tony Hague, Bedford, UK

For those who do still feel put out by this, please realise this is not a six month holiday Martin, UK

I feel for those people who don't wish to have children, and feel that they are missing out on something here. Not at all, I don't have children, but feel this is a great opportunity for men to be a great element in the early development of their child. This can only help children, hence why they have been given six months. But for those who do still feel put out by this, please realise this is not a six month holiday...
Martin, UK

Yet again the hard working singles will be made to foot the bill for those with a family. Child benefit, Family Tax credits, paid maternity leave and now this! When are we going to get given a break here?
Chris, Norwich, UK

Surely, if your employer can manage without you for six months, I guess he'll be wondering if he really wants you back!
Nigel, England

Why should mothers have six months' paid maternity leave, let alone fathers? Having babies is a choice. You have them, you pay for them. Why should companies pay for that choice? And yes, I am a mother. I took the decision to leave work prior to the birth and stay with her until she was at school. It was a financial struggle but having her was my choice and my responsibility.
Take six months off by all means if you wish, but it should be unpaid and companies should have no obligation to re-employ. Stop pandering to mothers and children.
Sally, England

It's too much of a hit in salary to be viable Jez, Sutton, Englan

Even the current paid paternity leave is irrelevant to me. It's too much of a hit in salary to be viable. With property prices (and mortgage repayments) being so high, only the very rich will be able to afford to take six months unpaid leave, with a young family to support.
Jez, Sutton, England

Many companies have the ability for the employee to apply for a six month unpaid sabbatical. This is a better idea as it is more generic and can be used when someone's relatives needs nursing, a new baby is born, a baby is adopted or a very long holiday.
Caron, England

If you want to close down more small businesses - yes it is cracking idea!
Maurice, Northumberland

Why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for others to have children? Whether it's the mother or father, parents choose to put themselves in such a situation. Gone are the days when we "needed" people to breed - in our overpopulated world, expanding our numbers is irresponsible. Having children is nothing more than an expansive hobby. Stop pretending it's some honourable civic duty!
Richard, Wellington, New Zealand

It's an absolutely fantastic idea that dads get time off too! Having a baby is a huge life changing experience, after all you are committing yourself to raising and loving another person for the rest of your life - Yes you need your job to provide for your family, but your main job once you decide to have a child is them after all - you will love them and want the best for them until your dying breath - no other job is as important or so full of commitment (or as fulfilling) as that!
Helen, Bristol

Why can't the Government just give every person, male or female, parent or non-parent, the right to 2 weeks of unpaid leave per year? Caroline, UK

Why can't the Government just give every person, male or female, parent or non-parent, the right to say 2 weeks of unpaid leave per year plus perhaps the ability to 'carry it over'? This would mean they can plan ahead more and decide if they want to have a child or take time out to go travelling.
Caroline, UK

What about the CHILDFREE (different from Childless) who would like 6 months off to devote to a project or travel the world? Disgusting! And they say parents are the ones contributing to the future of this country!
Sharon, Newport UK

Yes it's a good idea so long as Gordon Brown and Tony Blair take the idea up now, and go for a lot longer than 6 months!
John, UK

Is it any wonder that individuals with any earnings potential flee the UK like the plague! What company will be left, solvent, to fund such suicidal social welfare programs!
Michael, USA

It wouldn't surprise me if fathers were taxed on it as well! Justin McDonaugh, Leicester

This is an absolute joke. I am expecting my first child and cannot afford to take two weeks off on £100 let alone 6 months unpaid! It wouldn't surprise me if fathers were taxed on it as well!
Justin McDonaugh, Leicester

Having the choice to take up to 6 Months unpaid leave is a good idea. When my first child was born, my employer restricted me to having just one week off which they still refused to extend even when I informed them that our baby had been born by caesarean and that my wife was under orders not to do anything for two weeks.
Barry, Redhill, Surrey

Many people here are missing the point when they say they will not be able to afford to take off six months leave - of course not! When I first saw this story announced I reread everything to make sure because such a notion would be daft and another piece of idiotic law making by this Government. The idea is that whilst the father takes the time off, it gives the mother a chance to go back to work, therefore becoming the main breadwinner. Although where you will find a mother who is willing to give up this precious time easily remains to be seen.
Frank Bradshaw, Horsham, Sussex

It would be advantageous if all fathers could have time off irrespective of whether or not they have been in employment for 26 weeks. Neil Stanley, Taunton, England

In theory this is a good idea. It would be advantageous if all fathers could have time off irrespective of whether or not they have been in employment for 26 weeks. I work for an employment agency and I have no rights. The issue should be looked at in broader terms rather than the government trying to score minor points!
Neil Stanley, Taunton, England

Every time one of my colleagues has some sort of domestic issue, those of us who have no children have to fill the gap at work. In the past two years I have had my holidays cancelled, days off changed at a moments notice, and I have been expected to "drop everything" if someone cannot work because their child has a cold. I have absolutely no objection to people taking time with their children, but spare a thought please for those who have to deal with the consequences.
John, West Midlands, UK

The current paternity leave in the UK seems generous when compared to the 1 day (!) paternity leave I am entitled to in the US. I think government should provide families with a choice in raising a family. Giving equal entitlements (both financial and time-related) to both parents is the right thing to do. There are not many countries who would even consider such proposals.
Fergus, USA

Perhaps there should be corresponding benefits to those of us who are not bringing more children into this already overcrowded country.
PJ, Hull, UK

Any small business that is expected to allow staff to take 6 months to a year off without the ability to employ someone else will surely struggle. Jon, Aberdeen

This may not cause too much trouble to large companies; but any small business that is expected to allow staff to take 6 months to a year off without the ability to employ someone else will surely struggle to cope. If however they find they can cope without the employee for a year why would they want them back?
Jon, Aberdeen

I wish I could agree it was a good idea. I am a person who does not have children, but works full time. I already get fed up with holding the fort at work for absent mothers, let alone fathers. We singles get put upon and who thanks or rewards us. In truth it isn't even acknowledge!
Steve, UK

A better idea is what they have in B.C. in Canada where the Parents can take 6 months for a new baby. They can then decide if & how they want to split it between them.
Jane, Hillingdon, UK

A good idea is paid fathers' leave. Why give with one hand and take back with the other?
Stephen Cook, Borehamwood, England

Soon there won't be many tax payers left. Duncan, London UK

6 months paid paternity leave? Come on, what a nice scam that would be. Soon there won't be many tax payers left and the ones who are left will get out of this place as soon as possible.
Duncan, London UK

It's a good idea for fathers who care for the family. When I had my first child, I used my own holidays to care for both my wife and child. The controversy lies in the pay. If the leave is unpaid, I wonder how many fathers can afford it. If it is paid, I wonder how many fathers would actually spend the leave with the mother and child.
Ernest, London

Pure government policy fluff! How many people, even amongst those who earn a reasonably good living, can afford to take six months off with no pay?
Rustam Roy, England

Let's hope the government is now realising that fathers are as important to their children as the mother and we can soon hope to see total fairness, not just in the workplace but across the board where men and women are concerned.
Ben, Kintbury, England

When our daughter was born earlier this year it was made extremely difficult by work for me to take 5 days off let alone 2 weeks. John, London

When our daughter was born earlier this year it was made extremely difficult by work for me to take 5 days off let alone 2 weeks. 6 months sounds like a great idea, but it is not at all practical. I would be out of a job if I took 6 months off.
John, London

I recently took the 2 weeks paternity leave - it was nice to have the time to spend with my wife and new arrival. As for the money, well, at £100 a week, minus the usual taxes of course, it just about covers the nappies.
Sean, Norwich, UK

Of course it's a good idea in theory, but in reality, who can afford to take 6 months leave at £100 per week? Paul McLaren, Musselburgh, East Lothian

Of course it's a good idea in theory, but in reality, who can afford to take 6 months leave at £100 per week? When my son was born in August, I couldn't afford to live for 2 weeks on £100. How could I pay mortgages, bills, etc on that amount, whilst my wife was also on maternity leave! Get real! Sounds like another unfeasible Government scheme.
Paul McLaren, Musselburgh, East Lothian

Who, apart from the very few whose wives earn more than they do, could afford to take 6 months off unpaid? Until society is more balanced - in terms of salaries, benefits, retirement ages etc - between men and women, ideas like this are completely impractical for all but a handful. A cracking vote-catcher, though.
Steve, Warrington, UK

I'm going to be a father next year and want to take as much time off as possible when the baby is born. Dave, Cardiff

I'm going to be a father next year and want to take as much time off as possible when the baby is born. I won't be able to take any unpaid leave due to financial restrictions. I think fathers should be able to take up to 6 months paid leave, the same as mothers, so that they do not miss out on the early stages of a babies life. Why are fathers treated differently to mothers on matter like this? Surely both parents should be entitled to the same paternity leave, paid or unpaid!
Dave, Cardiff

Six months unpaid time off to take care of a child is nice but it would be highly desirable if it is paid in cases where only one parent is working.
Munis Abbas, London.United Kingdom

I'd rather have an additional six weeks paid leave available in weekly blocks. As an aside, the two weeks fathers currently get is too short. It should be at least four weeks at full pay.
Mike, Burton, UK

My Father suffered a severe stroke and I did not take time off to be with him nor did I think I was entitled to it. Carol A Partington, York, UK

I do not accept that the Mother should receive leave let alone the Father. Businesses will suffer. I have previously worked on a Customer Support unit where operating difficulties were experienced when Mothers took leave. My Father suffered a severe stroke and I did not take time off to be with him nor did I think I was entitled to it. Simply, we go to work to work and should not treat it like a part time hobby.
Carol A Partington, York, UK

This proposal makes complete sense. At the moment couples are forced into choosing that mum does all the childcare and dad has to go back to work - many couples don't want to do things this way. With this proposal, couples will have real choice about who goes to work and who stays at home - it'll get rid of one way in which government interferes with family life.
Tom, Cardiff

Why hasn't this happened sooner and why are fathers not to receive 6 months PAID leave like women? Who could afford six months unpaid with a new born baby to support? This simply guarantees no man will take the offer yet the employers can all say "Well, we have provided the opportunity". Rubbish, what opportunity? Hardly equality is it?
Ian, UK

It is a good idea as men may then experience the discrimination women receive regarding maternity leave. I also wonder how many new fathers could afford six months off?
D Morris, Romford England

Why should the Government have to "consider" giving equal rights to the father? Allan, Netherlands (British

Why should the Government have to "consider" giving equal rights to the father for taking six months unpaid leave? It should be an automatic right and one mainly based on the financial circumstances of the couple who have JOINT responsibility to raise a child.
Allan, Netherlands (British)

6 months paternity would be great, unpaid would not though; the only ones who could probably afford this are those who don't need to work anyway. I am due to take paternity leave straight after xmas and find the current 'pay' inadequate. Fortunately we are able to budget around this, but I think many others would be unable to.
Ben, UK

I don't think many fathers will be able to afford to take it Lydia, UK

Not really because I don't think many fathers will be able to afford to take it. The only mothers I know taking the extra unpaid maternity leave are the ones that work in City banks. What would be better for everyone (whether parents or not) is a shorter working week and more flexible hours.
Lydia, UK

Fathers should get 6 months paid paternity leave. Why is a father seen as a second-class, relatively unimportant parent?
TB, Spain

This is a great step forward but I'm afraid that most families can't afford to live off one salary for the six months the father would be off work. Also how many employers would hold the fathers position open for six months?
M Franz, Huddersfield UK

Presumably those people who choose for whatever reason not to have children can keep the country going. Vanessa , London

Great, so presumably those people who choose for whatever reason not to have children can keep the country going. Both parents surely can not expect to take so much time off. Parents and families get enough as it is and those childless adults end up carrying them. Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly in favour of fathers doing their bit, but what about alternating with the mother - not both at the same time.
Vanessa , London

A better idea would be to give employers tax breaks to set up crèches. I couldn't afford to be away from work for 6 months both from a monetary aspect and a career aspect. Lets be realistic, there are not going to be many fathers who can afford to do this. In today's world most couples still need to work after the children are born to make ends meet.
Ian, Derby UK

Six months unpaid leave may be a good idea, but for financial reasons it will remain simply an idea for the majority of people.
Iain, Southampton, UK

I'd love to. But unlike most MP's I can't afford six months unpaid.
Joe, Essex