Former Premier League footballer Troy Deeney took part in a symbolic football match outside the Houses of Parliament this week, joining a campaign urging the Government to address the UK's 'shocking' paternity leave rules. Dads and children from across the UK—including men who struggled with little or no paternity leave—played in the kickabout matches, which lasted only 10 minutes.
Symbolic match highlights short paternity leave
Each minute of the match represented one of the 10 days of statutory paternity leave available to UK fathers. Dads are entitled to just two working weeks of leave, paid at £184.03 per week—less than half the minimum wage, and the worst offer in Europe, where the average is 8 weeks. Shockingly, self-employed sole traders are not legally entitled to any statutory paternity leave or pay.
Deeney, best known for playing for Watford, said he had to be back at work within 48 hours when his son was born in December 2019. While he 'accepted it as part of my career as a footballer,' he has since experienced first-hand the benefit of spending time with his younger child. 'I recently had another baby and had much longer off, which has made such a difference in terms of being able to support my partner and bond with my child,' he said.
Campaigners demand six weeks at 90% pay
Men's health charity Movember and paternity leave campaigners The Dad Shift hosted the symbolic kickabout on Monday, June 8. When the whistle blew at the 10th minute, the dads were benched. The kids then carried on playing as the dads missed out on extra time. Every player wore a shirt with the number 6 on the back—the number of weeks of statutory paternity leave campaigners are calling for, with 90% pay (capped).
Deeney said: 'At the start, building that connection with your child is so important. Being there and helping out makes a difference. Six weeks' pay at the beginning, which can help further down the line, is a no-brainer. I was a builder at 19, [I was shocked] I didn't know that self-employed people didn't get anything. If you're self-employed, you go to work, pay tax, but you get nothing back when you need help? It doesn't feel right.'
Former Rugby international Ugo Monye also took part. He told MyLondon: 'I don't think the base we're at supports dads emotionally, physically or financially—it doesn't give them the ability to be there for the mum and for the child. I've got two kids, and after two weeks, you're forced to go back to work; you're not protected by legislation. When you distil everything, what's the most important thing at that point? I think it's to be at home, to bond and be able to support.'
Monye added: 'When I had my second child, it was due to lockdown, and I saw the difference. I got to see what it's like to be at home for an extended period. There's greater harmony and support at home and you get to spend more time with your child. I never knew before it was only two weeks—I don't think [this system] is designed for the purpose. This should be for everyone.'
Campaign ahead of Men's Health Week and Father's Day
The campaign kicked off ahead of Men's Health Week (15–21 June) and Father's Day (June 21). With three fifths of Britons (60%) warning that quality time with children is becoming something only wealthy parents can afford, Movember and The Dad Shift are calling on the government to move immediately to six weeks of statutory paternity leave at 90% pay (capped), with two weeks taken at birth and the remaining four weeks available to take any time in the first year.
They also want legislators to extend paternity leave entitlement to self-employed people and to review maternity health services to ensure they respond to the needs of fathers. Movember and The Dad Shift are calling on the public to kick up a fuss for better paternity leave.
