Image by Surprising Media, Pixabay
By Betty del Pilar Jimenez Garzon, Davyd Zakharniev, Anastasiia Savina, and Noha Abuqassem
Young fathers across England are voicing frustration over the limited duration of paternity leave, arguing that the current two-week allowance fails to give them the time or support needed to adjust to fatherhood and bond with their newborns.
As calls for reform grow louder, many say government policy has not kept pace with the realities of modern family life.
On 1 July, the UK Parliament launched a major review of the country’s parental leave system, promising to “reset” it and make it fairer for modern families. Parents across Britain are calling for paternity leave to be extended from two to four weeks, saying the current policy is among the shortest and lowest-paid in Europe. Experts warn that without reform, gender inequality in the workplace will persist.
Fathers in Highbury and Islington, where young parents were enjoying the midday sun with their children, said the current system leaves them with little time to adapt to parenthood or support their partners.
Dwayne Grant, 31, a taxi driver from North London, was pushing a buggy with his two-month-old daughter asleep inside. “Sandy,” he said, smiling as he gently uncovered her face. “She’s two months old.”
Grant works nights for Uber and cares for Sandy during the day while his wife is at work.
“Two weeks is definitely not enough. I believe I speak for every young father here it’s simply not enough time for your child to get used to you,” he said. “Our government should reconsider its policies on paternity leave.”
Grant explained that he and his wife had previously lived in Spain, where he felt “more secure planning a family” thanks to a more generous leave system. “You get more time before you have to go back to work,” he added, before Sandy woke up and he politely excused himself.
James Miller, another London father, expressed similar frustration. “My paternity leave was over before it began,” he said. “You’re just getting used to sleepless nights and supporting your partner and suddenly you’re expected to go back to work. It doesn’t feel fair, especially when mothers are entitled to several months off.”
Miller added that many of his colleagues are afraid to ask for additional time off, fearing it might reflect badly on them at work. “You feel guilty for even wanting to be there for your baby,” he admitted.
Across the Channel, the situation appears quite different. Michel Hilbart, a visiting father from France, described a much more supportive policy. “When my son was born, I received seven weeks of leave, plus two extra weeks of holiday,” he said. “That’s nine weeks in total – plenty of time to build a real bond with your child before returning to work.”
Hilbart added that in France, it is seen as completely normal for fathers to take parental leave. “It benefits the family and promotes equality,” he said. “We see parenting as something to be shared.”
Women also share this view. Marry Evans said that giving fathers more time off would “definitely help their wives” and “be very helpful for mothers.” She believes longer leave could ease the pressure many new mothers face after childbirth.
Mum Tina Brown explained that she couldn’t get any help from her partner because he works full time and wasn’t offered paternity leave. “It was really hard,” she said. “I was alone at that time, and it was difficult to manage everything on my own.”
Her story shows how the lack of paternity leave doesn’t only affect fathers it leaves mothers isolated and exhausted during one of the most vulnerable periods of their lives.
On 13 October 2025, Working Families, a UK charity that supports parents and carers, published its report “Barriers to Equal Parenting” in partnership with Wates Group. The study of 5,000 working fathers found that 74% want to embrace equal parenting roles, but many feel their requests for time off would be met with negativity.
Another 44% believe mothers are more likely to be given flexibility for childcare, while 6% took no paternity leave at all. Almost eight in ten said the lack of workplace support had harmed their own or their family’s health.
The report concludes that while official policies exist, outdated workplace attitudes remain a major barrier to equal parenting.
As Parliament debates reform, fathers and mothers alike are united in one clear message: Britain’s paternity leave system no longer fits the modern family. For many, two weeks is not a gift it’s a countdown.
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