Many new Irish fathers are reluctant to take leave to help look after their offspring

RECENT STUDIES in the UK show that almost half of all fathers refused to take paternity leave they were entitled to, because they feared it could affect their work prospects.

For many new Irish fathers, choosing to turn down paternity leave is not even an option, as there is currently no legal entitlement to it here.

With the prevailing economic climate, some observers believe the pressure for reform of paternity rights is unlikely to be top of the agenda for some time.

At present, paternity leave in the private sector in Ireland is at the discretion of employers, while in the public sector three days’ off is available to staff.

A period of parental leave is legally available to both parents, allowing for up to 14 weeks’ unpaid leave in respect of children up to eight years.

But how do Irish men feel about taking leave at the time of birth? And does the Irish workplace frown upon more home time for new fathers?

Katharine Kelleher, an expert in family law and partner with Comyn Kelleher Tobin in Cork, says the lack of legislation for paternity rights means a lot of men see this as further degradation of their rights as fathers.

However, paternity leave is not automatically available to fathers under Irish statutory law. “You could therefore ask the question about how the State values the role of the father,” Kelleher says.

She adds that Irish men are very disinclined to go to their employers and look for additional days off at the time of birth.

“I think it’s a cultural issue: we are a male-dominated society. In the UK, instances of women earning more than men is higher and theirs is a more equal society that values equality more,” she says.

“Whereas parental leave can be taken by either parent, paternity leave can’t be taken by fathers in Ireland generally,” she says.

TV producer Aidan Mulcahy says that many males he knows in the private sector would feel insecure were they to take extended leave at the time of birth.

“The concern would be that if you took time off, it could be a means for the boss to say, ‘We didn’t need him for the last couple of days, so do we need him at all?’” says Mulcahy.

“I think the issue is more of a gender problem. Fathers don’t go in and ask for much time off to help in the first few days at home – that is still something they expect mothers to do.

“If you are male and have a child, then the job becomes a lot more important. There is still a sense that your worth is your job and that is your responsibility.”

Some recent fathers have shared their frustrations on the website www.dad.ie. One father, Eoin, says he inquired about paternity leave and was told he’d have to take holidays. “Bear in mind that the company was awarded in the top 50 places to work for in Ireland this year,” he says.

Website editor David Caren says it is an ongoing issue for his forums. “There is a lot of discussion about it. If someone becomes a father and may need some time off, in many cases they have to go cap in hand, and it is at the goodwill of the employer.

“It’s infuriating for a lot of dads. I’ve known cases where dads had to go back to work the same day their baby was born.”

One recent father who has managed to take time out is Dave O’Keeffe, a computer programmer with Marino Software. “I took two weeks’ paid leave when my son Ronan was born. I work in a pretty small company and the boss said to me it was there if I wanted it. I’m also taking unpaid leave for five weeks. A lot of male friends were surprised,” he says.

“The two weeks off were important I thought, because I was there to help my wife Jackie and Ronan and to change him and be as much a part of his life as Jackie is. I have yet to feel any alienation at all which I’m very happy with.”

O’Keeffe’s boss in Marino Software, Keith Davey, says that while his company doesn’t have a stated policy, he has ensured new fathers all get time off to adjust.

“I have a young son myself and I know how I felt when he was born in that I wanted to take a break. So when it came around for employees I decided two weeks’ off seems a reasonable practice.”

Davey says the flexibility the company shows towards employees is returned at other times of the year, making it a win-win situation for both employers and employees.

“No doubt we get the benefits back at other times when work needs to be done. I think the lack of paternity leave is very sexist and enforces the idea that men don’t look after the children.

“In the current situation, with a lot of men unemployed, it just doesn’t make any sense to enforce that stereotype any longer.”

YOUR ENTITLEMENTS

THERE IS currently no legislation on paternity leave in Ireland.

Workers in the public service are entitled to three days leave after the birth of a baby. In the private sector, it is entirely up to each individual employer with some offering holidays and others facilitating unpaid leave.

This contrasts with men in the UK who are entitled to two weeks’ leave, while in Scandinavian countries men can take a month off.

A period of parental leave is legally available to both parents, allowing for up to 14 weeks’ unpaid leave in respect of children up to eight years.