You don’t have to be a mother to understand the weight of raising children; the mental, physical, and financial toll can be overwhelming. That’s why we attended the first-ever Working Dad Summit in the UK, an event dedicated to reshaping how society and policy support fathers. The goal is clear: give dads more time at home by changing both legislation and workplace culture, easing the pressure on mothers, and helping male caregivers be present in those crucial early weeks.
The summit, founded by Elliott Rae, co-presenter of the About A Boy podcast and founder of Parenting Out Loud, brought together fathers, campaigners, and businesses with a simple mission: to normalise dads taking parental leave and make it financially and culturally possible for them to do so.
A stark reality for UK fathers
The statistics shared at the summit were sobering. One in three dads don’t take paternity leave at all, most say they simply can’t afford to, and uptake of shared parental leave remains painfully low at around 3 per cent. Fathers from all walks of life stood up to share how this lack of support has impacted their families
Richard Odufisan, Employee Engagement & Inclusion Manager at Balfour Beatty, spoke candidly about his experience: “When I first went on paternity leave, I was terrified of the impact it would have on my job and my career. The day after my baby came home, I joined a call. There was something freeing when my boss said that I was only allowed online to send baby pictures.”
His words captured a feeling echoed throughout the day: many dads simply don’t feel supported, and that lack of support makes it harder for them to show up fully at home.
The current reality of paternity leave
Right now in the UK, fathers have three main choices:
• Statutory paternity leave: up to two weeks of leave after the birth or adoption of a child.
• Shared parental leave: shared with the mother or primary caregiver, but uptake is low.
• Unpaid leave: an option many simply cannot afford to take.
For most families, statutory paternity leave is the only realistic choice, and as any new parent will tell you, two weeks is nowhere near enough to recover, bond, and adjust to life with a newborn. Those eligible for statutory leave receive £187.18 a week (or 90 per cent of their average earnings, whichever is lower), less than half the National Living Wage.
Signs of change
There is hope. Some businesses are already leading the way by offering more generous paternity packages. Companies like Microsoft, Balfour Beatty, and Universal Music Group have introduced enhanced paternity leave and are actively working to shift workplace culture.
Richard, who was able to take 12 weeks of fully paid paternity leave, summed up why this matters: “The relationship my son and I have now is because of the time we spent together. But where you work shouldn’t be the deciding factor for those memories; it shouldn’t be a lottery.”
Policy, politics, and the push for reform
Campaigners argue that this is not just a parenting issue; it’s a public health and equality issue. With statistics showing that two to three babies lose their dads to suicide every week across the UK, Parenting Out Loud is committed to fighting for better support for fathers.
The event was joined by Labour MP Stella Creasy and Baroness Penn, both calling for reform. Baroness Penn described the current paternity and shared leave policies as “bad policies,” saying: “They are a privilege and do not work.”
She argued that a solution is within reach: fully paid leave, set at around 90 per cent of salary, and reserved specifically for dads and carers.
Stella Creasy added that while the government is reviewing paternity leave, progress is too slow: “Research shows that this will improve society as a whole,” she said, calling for urgent action.
What you can do
The message from the summit was clear: change won’t happen without pressure. Elliott Rae, founder of Parenting Out Loud, is urging all parents, mothers, fathers, and allies to write to their MPs and demand better parental leave policies.
Because when fathers are supported to take meaningful time off, families thrive. Mothers share less of the mental and physical load, children benefit from stronger early bonds, and society as a whole becomes healthier and more equitable.
About the author
Hannah Carroll is our Senior Digital Writer. In her capacity, she curates top-notch listicles, crafts insightful how-to guides, and delivers expert product reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah draws upon her comprehensive understanding of all facets of family life to bring true insight into all the products that make running a home easier.