Several large UK retailers have taken the lead in expanding paternity leave provisions for their employees, according to recent research. Marks & Spencer and Tesco now offer six weeks of fully paid paternity leave, substantially above the statutory entitlement of two weeks. Other retailers including Asda, Waitrose, and Lidl have similarly upgraded their offerings in recent years. Privately held companies such as Ikea, Lego, and Virgin Media O2 have also adopted more generous policies. These five major employers alone affect nearly 650,000 workers through their enhanced provisions.
The statutory paternity leave in the UK provides two weeks paid at £194.32 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower. Campaigners have characterized this as inadequate compared to international standards, noting that the UK ranks 40th out of 43 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries and has the least generous entitlement in Europe. Retail sector employees and union representatives recently held a parliamentary discussion to highlight the impact of improved leave policies on working families.
A significant disparity exists across different economic sectors. Analysis shows that the construction industry employs roughly one in 10 working men but accounts for only about one in 15 statutory paternity pay recipients. Self-employment is common in construction and agriculture, sectors where workers currently have no entitlement to paid paternity leave. Engineering firms like Rolls-Royce, despite having a predominantly male workforce, offer only the statutory two weeks at full pay.
Over 100 Labour MPs have called for government action to improve paternity leave provisions, specifically requesting six weeks paid at 90% of earnings capped at £1,200 weekly, with extension to self-employed fathers. An 18-month government review of the UK’s parental leave system is expected to report later this year.
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