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Reconciling parenthood and work - NatCen briefing
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Transcript of Reconciling parenthood and work - NatCen briefing
NatCen Briefing: Reconciling Parenthood and WorkMari Toomse, Research Director, [email protected]
Eloise Poole, Senior Researcher, [email protected]
1
Briefing overview
Background
Introduction to the study
Fathers’ results
• Taking time off before birth• Taking time off after birth
Mothers’ results
• Maternity leave• Returning to work
Question and answer session
2
Recent policy context
Work and Families Act 2006
Extension of Paternity Leave April 2011
Modern Workplaces Consultation 2011
Focus is shifting towards shared parenting
3
Aims of research
Examine the effect of legislative changes on take up of maternity pay and leave and return to work
Identify differences between groups of mothers
Identify choices and constraints for not returning
Examine take up of paternity leave and pay
4
Study overview
Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey
Funded by DWP and BIS
Face-to-face survey of mothers
Telephone survey of fathers
Fieldwork conducted in 2009/10
Babies born May to September 2008
Sample from Child Benefit records
5
Publication of findings
DWP Research Report 777: Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners
http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2011-2012/rrep777.pdf
Research Summary
Data in the UK Data Archive
6
Fathers
7
Taking time off before birth
Women usually require
• 2 antenatal scans• 7-10 antenatal appointments
Mothers can invite fathers along
Attending antenatal appointments
• Makes father more committed to pregnancy• Encourages active involvement in child’s upbringing
No entitlements at the moment
Fathers encouraged to take time off
8
Taking time off after birth
Until April 2011
• 2 weeks off Paternity Leave during the first two months• Paid at a flat rate (£117 p/w in 2008/09)
From April 2011
• If mother goes back to work father can take remaining entitlement
• After 20 weeks
9
Taking time off before birth
10
Did fathers take time off before birth?
11 Base: All fathers
How much time did fathers take off?
Base: All fathers who took time off12
How did they take time off?
Base: All fathers who took time off before birth13
Taking time off after birth
14
Did fathers take time off after birth?
Base: All fathers15
How much time did fathers take off?
Base: All fathers who took some time off16
How did fathers take time off?
Base: All fathers who took some time off after birth17
Who took paternity leave?
Base: All employed fathers who took time off after baby’s birth18
Who took paternity leave?
Base: All employed fathers who took time off after baby’s birth19
Number of weeks of Paternity Leave at full pay
Base: All fathers who took paternity leave20
Who did not receive full pay?
Fathers were less likely to receive full pay if:
21
Worked for a small or medium sized private employer
Had lower pay
Had access to fewer family friendly arrangements
Worked as a process, plant or machine operatives or in elementary occupations
Reasons for not taking paternity leave
Base: Fathers who did not take paternity leave22
Summary
Two-thirds of fathers took time off before birth
• More than half took more than 2 days• Vast majority took paid leave
9 out of 10 fathers took time off after birth
Three quarters did it by taking paternity leave
Three quarters took two weeks or more
4 out of 5 received full pay for at least some time
Affordability of paternity leave was an issue for some fathers
23
Mothers – Maternity Leave
24
Maternity leave – current legislation
Employed mothers are entitled to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave
• 39 weeks may be paid• 13 weeks are unpaid
Employed mothers who qualify for statutory maternity pay (SMP) receive
• 6 weeks of paid leave at 90% of average earnings• 33 weeks of leave at a ‘flat rate’
Self employed mothers and non-qualifying mothers receive all paid leave at ‘flat rate’
If after 20 weeks of leave a mother returns to work, her partner can:
• Take up to 26 weeks of leave• Take any remaining pay
25
Maternity leave – 2007 changes
Work and Families Act 2006:
• Statutory Maternity Leave extended to 52 weeks for all mothers
• Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance from 26 to 39 weeks
• Introduction of Keeping in Touch Days
Aim
• Give mothers a chance to spend more time with the baby
• Facilitate return to work
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Maternity Leave and Maternity Pay
27
Mothers taking longer maternity leave: key characteristics
28
Mothers taking longer maternity leave:key characteristics
29
Mothers – Maternity Pay
30
Maternity Pay
31
Mothers – Return to work
32
Return to work
Share of mothers returning to work:
• 2008 – 77%• 2006 – 76%
No significant difference in return to work rate between 2006 and 2008
33
Return to work – key characteristics
34
Return to work – key characteristics
35
Return to work – key characteristics
36
Working hours before and after birth
37
Mothers – Summary
Following the 2007 policy changes:
• More mothers taking longer periods of leave• Factors which influenced the amount of leave taken are
reducing
38
However, there has been no change:
• In the rate of mothers returning to work post-birth, but lone parents and mothers without qualifications are less likely to return
• The propensity of mothers to engage in part-time working following birth
Conclusion
39
Work and Families Act 2006 has enabled mothers to take longer leave
Evidence on impact on return to work is not clear
Differences between mothers in length of leave taken have decreased
However, differences in return to work have increased
Conclusion
40
Fathers are taking time off before birth
After birth many fathers are taking more than their statutory entitlement after birth
Indicates appetite among fathers to be more involved
Conclusion
41
Majority of time fathers take off before birth is paid
Majority of fathers receive some paternity leave at full pay
Affordability main reason for non take-up
Most mothers have returned to work by the time their SMP/MA entitlement has ended
Financial considerations are important for many parents
For discussion
How can this evidence help in developing the system of shared parental leave?
42
Questions & Answers
43