Every dad deserves fair treatment in the workplace – even if you are not Dad of the Year. With Father’s Day this Sunday, 19 June, working dads or dads to be should take the opportunity to know their rights about when they can take time off, if they will be paid during that time of, and if they can apply for flexible working.
The Acas (the employment relations service) helpline received more than 50,000 calls about issues relating to working parents in the last year and 35,000 visited the Acas website to look at guidance.
Extended rights came into effect in April, which allows working dads to take additional paternity leave – so it’s important that dads know what these rights are and the guidance and support on offer. Acas has practical guidance for working dads or those about to become a dad, including adoptive fathers to be.
Stewart Gee, Acas helpline manager said: “Many new dads will want to take time off work to look after their newborn and want to know the rules around paternity leave. As a working parent, I certainly needed to remind myself what the rules were before becoming a dad.
“There is plenty of guidance out there on what you can or cannot do and employers can check that their policies are up-to-date too.â€
For further information visit the Acas website www.acas.org.uk/fathers.
