Campaigners are pushing for universities to increase paternity leave to a minimum of six weeks on full pay, describing current policies at many institutions as “shocking” and lagging behind other industries.
An audit of paternity leave entitlements across the sector shows many universities continue to offer new dads little more than their legal obligations, with precarity and overwork adding to the difficulties many face.
The annual University and College Union (UCU) congress recently backed a motion calling for universities to offer six weeks of “well-paid” paternity leave – mirroring the main ask of campaign group the Fatherhood Institute.
Jeremy Davies, deputy CEO at the organisation and founder of the “six weeks for dads campaign”, said he was “shocked by how few universities and HEIs were offering better than the statutory minimum” paternity leave.
“The motherhood penalty continues to restrict women’s progress in academia, and among support staff. We know that closing the gap between mothers’ and fathers’ parental leave offers is key to addressing this,” he said.
