Islington Council will give fathers, partners and adoptive parents six weeks’ paternity leave at 90 per cent of their normal pay, up from the two-week statutory minimum, in a new policy that takes effect from mid-November.
The council announced the policy on 27 October, saying two weeks was not enough time for new parents to build a relationship with their baby, support their partner and adjust to their new life.
The enhanced paternity leave policy will offer eligible council employees six weeks of paternity leave at 90 per cent of their normal pay — the same statutory level of pay as new mothers during the first six weeks of maternity leave.
The new entitlement allows colleagues to take their leave in one block, or in separate blocks of at least one week, provided it is within a year of the birth or adoption date.
It goes beyond the two-week statutory paternity leave currently available in the UK. Weekly statutory paternity pay in England and Wales is £194.32, or 90 per cent of a person’s average weekly earnings — whichever is lower.
Cllr Una O’Halloran, Leader of Islington Council, said: “Becoming a parent is one of the most amazing things anyone can ever experience, and those first few weeks with a new baby are precious.
“But those early weeks are also hugely demanding, as families adjust to a new routine and work out how best to support one another. Two weeks simply isn’t enough to do that – we want our colleagues to have more time to be there for their partners, bond with their babies, and build the foundations of family life.
“We’re not waiting for the Government to tell us to do the right thing – we care about our people, so we’re stepping up because we believe supporting families matters. We’re proud to be backing the Dad Shift campaign in this way, as longer paternity leave is better for children, better for parents, and better for workplaces.”
The council said it was taking the initiative rather than waiting for the Government to change the national entitlement, recognising that employers have a vital role in supporting families and promoting a more equal sharing of parental responsibilities.
George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift, said: “It’s fantastic to see Islington Council stepping up and helping set an example for what decent paternity leave looks like across local government.
“Two weeks might work for a holiday, but the idea you’re going to support your partner as she recovers from birth, bond with your baby, or begin figuring out what it means to be a father in that time is a joke.
“The evidence couldn’t be clearer – proper paternity leave is good for mums, dads and babies too. Islington Council’s actions will help hundreds of working families every year get that bit of extra time together in a moment you can never get back.”
The Government is currently engaged in a review of the statutory allowance, expected to conclude in early 2027.
Islington is one of the few local authorities whose paternity leave allowance outstrips the statutory minimum, according to grassroots campaigners The Dad Shift.
The council has also invested in support for families in other ways. It recently announced £9.5m of investment in SEND provision in its schools.
