Hey Revive
My husband was also adamant to be a part of our child's life from the word go and after making our sums and stuff we decided that he would take a two year sabbatical from his career and spend the first two years of our child's life with him. It was the best decision ever and he went back to work when our son was 18 months old because of an incredible job opportunity. Our paternity leave policies suck!

I got a full 3 days' family responsibility leave when my little boy was born 16 months ago. I had to take my annual leave on top of that.

We're now expecting our second - a little girl - in April and the thought of another 3 days' leave really grates me. And it's not just about bonding with the little one and sharing that precious time. It's also about being there for my wife. Recovering from a Caeserian is not a joke. You need someone around to help you. Add a little toddler to the mix, and there's no way I can leave home for 10 hours every day. And we don't have parents in town to help either.

For a bunch of politicians who do so much hand wringing and frowning about broken families and single parents, our government's policy on paternity leave is laughable. Have a look at what some of the leading countries are doing:

Australia: 18 weeks federal minimum wage (From January 1, 2011, pending parliamentary approval)

Germany: 12/14 months (67%, but not more than 1.800 Euro/month) (14 only for single fathers)

Italy: 13 weeks (3 months) (80%)

Sweden: 480 days (16 months) (80% up to a ceiling the first 390 days, 90 days at flat rate) - shared with mother (dedicated 60 days) + 10 working days in connection with the child's birth.

I know these are developed nations with strong economies, but no matter how you try and explain it away, 3 days is an insult. Even here in poor Africa, Kenyans get 2 weeks and Togo, Chad, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and a bunch of others all grant 10 days.

Dad's don't deserve paternity leave !

I don't have any leave policy to contribute to your cause Revive but I support if fully

My partner and I had a baby in june this year and all he got was 3 days (new at the job and didn't have annual leave available yet). I'm greatful that he was there during the labour and the birth experince but that didn't leave him much time to bond with baby when she'd arrived. He did what he could when he was around (bathing/ changing nappies/ bottle feeding) but we did miss the support of a husband and father at home - the days and nights can be very long with a demanding newborn looking to you for their every need. Some mothers have been driven into a state of post-natal depression because of insufficient support.

We're always quick to talk about the deterioration of society when we don't do enough to support nuclear families, but healthy families are the building blocks of a healthy society. Companies should look at this, if only, within the broader context of employee wellness.

Good luck!

I think Paternity leave is a ripoff just not go be at work and a feeble excuse.In our years of working and having children there was no such things at all.
We brought up very disciplined children who are successful citizens and taxpayers without Paternity leave etc which is stupid for a newborn babys father saying he wants to be at home for the baby. The mother is there!!

When you had a baby on the way arrangements were made that when the mother went into labour the father would go on official leave for a week or so or longer if they wished. Having a child is quite a natural procedure and it certainly does not require two parents to be at home for a whole month. What does the father want to do at home for a month! The newborn baby sleeps most of the day;

As for the feeble excuse of one father stating he grew up without a father and now wants paternity leave to be there for his newborn child. For goodness sake, this newborn does not need you around now. He does not even know who the father is and if his is there as yet. A newborn needs the mother, needs feeding and sleeps.

The child will need you when he starts taking notice of his surroundings and when he is a toddler and especially in Primary School and even MORE so when he is a Teenager! -certainly not newborn!!

Do these fathers want paternity leave every stage of the childs development, plus annual leave, plus sick leave !!

When do these people want to reliase in this Country, it is a priveledge to have a job ( even if half employed are SOOO LAZY and Incapable it is mindboggling) when do these people want to get serious ab9ut wORKING! BEING PRODUCTIVE, and considering their employees !!

It is not the clients of your Companys problem that your family is having a baby. They ALL have babies all the time, they want service and they actually pay your employer for your salary! You want to have babies, go ahead, but Fathers on Paternity leave that is ridiculous. Why dont these Dads just reisng and stay home and spend time with the children all the time during their development stages, then somebody who is unemployed can at least get that job without still wanting further perks etc.. and will be prepared to work.If you go into a Pick and Pay store, half the staff are just standing around!

No wonder food is so expensive if Pick and Pay can afford to have a mother and father off on full pay !! and the most of their
staff just cruising around.

There are a great majority in our Population or should not be having further children as they cannot afford it and cannot give a child the proper means to grow up into a responsible Citizen. If all of them now also want leave, paternityleave, sick leave,
God help this Country which already has gone from prosperity to the laziest workforce and unproductivity scenario in the
world in only 15 years. Just look at the Service Delivery and Government and Municipal Departments, maybe most of them are on permanent Maternity and Paternity leave and then come back to sign the forms for their Annual Leave and then they will still expect Bonus as well. Go to the fare easwt and learn to work. I know we lived there for 8 years.

Thank you for all the feedback everyone!! If possible, would you be able to email me a copy of those leave policies (email details ion my first post) I know its not a lot of days, so may seem pointless...but we only get 2 days...so any bit helps..even if it seems like its nothing! I would really appreciate it!

I know some European companies, employees can take up to a year (obviously not all paid)...but still...the fact they they give the time is amazing!

I also understand about running a business...but in my life...family comes first and I think more people are picking up on this. At my work, if the person is that "irreplaceable", we get in temps to help out, otherwise some people just work a bit from home if possible. I will prob suggest this and try bargain with them and say I will be available at home to help work from home if needed, and hopefully get an extended period of leave. But who knows?

Stop with partenity leave nonsense. Are you women? Focus on mens job, don't get softy on us now. Where have the real men gone?

Sorry Revive... I only read the last post about paternity leave once I posted this

I guess the best approach currently would be to take the first 2 out of 5 days off in full and then split the last 3 into half days. That will only work if your employer is willing though.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for the tip. The good thing is they are quite open to suggestion. So thats good. My wife has opted for a caesar. So she will be in hospital for 4 days. I idea is the first day I will take leave for the birth, then cos she is in hospital, will take remainder when she is out but the more the better as it will mean I can bond with the family and help out around the house. A caesar is hectic...so she will need a lot of help.

Could not have put it better myself.