I wouldn't mind some non-breeder leave. You know, for not adding to overpopulation and that kind of thing. Plus some atheist holidays would be really nice (as staff members from the three major monotheistic faiths in SA get time off for their holy days at my company).

Then again, I do think that there should be a paternity leave policy and that men should get at least two weeks off to assist the mother and bond with their new offspring.

So good luck to you.

PS At my company (in the petroleum industry) it's 3 days paternity leave.

At my husband's last job (Makro Head Office), fathers were entitled to 14 days paternity leave. His boss made it quite clear that he would not be impressed if my husband took more than one week when baby was born though.

Would you be able to ask him for this leave policy and email it to me?

I have a friend who works at Maskew Miller Longman and I seem to remember him going on leave for something stupid like 3 months when his child was born. Maybe check into that.

Maybe you can phone there HR, their number is 021 532 6000

Please, please, please!

Coming from a mother and grandmother. The company you are employed by, did not decide to start a family. It's your and your partner's decision. Nobody else is involved, so do not shove your responsibility on your employer. When you accepted the job, did your contract stipulate paid maternity-/paternity leave from your employer? From the moment of conceivement until her/his death, if you outlive your children, they are your responsibility. You as parents, have nine months to prepare by starting to save. If you're able to, start before conceivement. In doing this, you'll have to sacrifice many things but boy is it worth it.

There are many examples how you can claim from the UIF fund. Why do you not ask to be booked off sick for a certain period and claim, or else take sabbatical leave. No company is under obligation to pay maternity leave, so why should fathers be paid paternity leave?

Please own up to parenthood, which is by choice but very worthwhile if you don't look at it through tinted glasses.

ENJOY!!!!

To Parent24ed, which country do you live in that you think most people only have 1 or 2 children? In countries where they have a negative population growth rate it makes sense to incentivise people to make babies, but in Africa where we have more mouths than we could ever hope to feed, do you think thats wise? The last thing we need to do is encourage men (especially in Africa where marriage is not a requirement for sowing your oats left right and centre) to make more babies. Think about this from an economy point of view and an African point of view, which is where we live and men are allowed to have as many wives as they want. What will happen to the profitability of companies if they have to give 4 weeks paid leave to every guy in this country?
I know its tough for guys who genuinely want to be there to support their wives and new borns, but honestly what percentage of South African men will not just abuse this?

I just had a baby in August and my husband's employer only gave him 2 days leave. The company closes down over Christmas and he was not able to take additional leave. I had a c-section and a very hard time to cope all on my own - caring for myself and baby. I'd love to see SA amend it's paternity leave policy.

I am a mother of four and a physiotherapist. I worked until the day before each child was born and returned to work as soon as I was physically strong enough (after ten days). Because I have always been self-employed and earn a fee for work done I had to budget for my maternity 'leave'. I breastfed all four children until they were one year old - I had the luxury of being able to schedule my work sessions around this. Apart from the babysitter while I saw patients, I cared for the babies entirely alone. Their father was not involved at all in nappies, feeds, baths or other fundamentals that mothers can quite easily cope with. Quite honestly I don't know what the fuss is about, having a baby is not a crisis or an illness, it's hard work but a natural process. New babies sleep most of the time and don't need two parents hovering over them 24/24. They need the mother's nurturing during the first few months not the father's. Your wife will be physically exhausted and needs a break as well as private bonding time with her baby. But you won't have carried a baby for nine months. You won't have endured a birth and recovery process. You won't have the hormonal fluctuations. You don't need to rest and recover. Grow up and stop looking to be rewarded for something that the majority of women worldwide take in their stride. You will be vitally important once the children are bigger - healthily involved fathers (but not men acting as second mothers) are the best thing ever. Start preparing for the realities of physical games, homework and building positive self-esteem. before you know it your 'paternity leave' will be over and - in what feels like seconds - your child will be facing matric finals. I wish you and your wife every joy that children can bring.

So glad there are so many loving, committed dads out there. As you say, the bonding is such an ongoing process.

Hey Revive, thanks for starting this lively discussion thread. I would never have guessed that South Africans feel so strongly about paternity leave on both sides. Here's hoping you've got some useful leads out of this forum.