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More evidence that global momentum is building behind making life better for working dads
Austrian dads can now take a whole month of ‘daddy leave’ as the Alpine nation becomes the latest country to boost paternity leave.
The move comes as the UK government launched a consultation on giving British dads up to three months off following the birth of a child. It all adds up to a growing international movement recognising the role of dads. It suggests momentum is building behind strategies to make life easier for working dads.
Parents in Austria already have the right to request part time work and dads as well as mums receive special protections making it harder to sack them if their child is younger than four.
However it’s not all good news. The ‘daddy month’ which has been welcomed by campaigners in Austria, is unpaid. It’s claimed a tax relief known as the ‘family time bonus’ and worth up to €1500 per child per year will help finances but many families will still be left out of pocket if the father uses his full entitlement. The drawbacks of the new Austrian scheme mirror those reported in the UK where men can take shared parental leave but uptake has been low because the financial cost to the family can be large.
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