Kingston University’s paternity policy has come under fire for not providing adequate support for staff members who are fathers.
The university’s current policy states that eligible staff members can choose to take either one or two consecutive weeks’ paternity leave in a single block, taken in even days.
In cases of more than one child being born from the same pregnancy, or where more than one child is adopted, only a single period of paternity leave is allowed.
Meanwhile, the maternity leave policy at KU states that staff are entitled to up to 52 weeks total of maternity leave: 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave 39 weeks of which is paid.
Javier Ortega, a KU economic professor, stated: “[Paternity leave policies] should be designed in a way that if the father is more inclined to take leave than the mother, then they should be able to.” He added that in its current form, the university’s paternity policy “is flawed and inflexible”.
According to research done by Progressive Policy.net, only 18% of Brits think that two weeks of paternity leave is sufficient. According to research from the Leave in the Lurch Report, 43% of fathers who were entitled to paternity don’t take it due to financial hardships and constraints and 63% of all fathers stated they did not feel mentally ready to return to work when they did.
The research also found that also among prospective parents only 18% could afford to take six weeks of paternity leave if it was paid at 90% of their income, the statutory maternity pay for women.
“Policies need to adjust so that it is normal that some women don’t want to spend all their time with kids and shorter hours at work, and it is also important to realise there are some men who would like to do so because that is their preference,” said Javier Ortega.
However, not everyone believes that the paternity policy is in need for such a radical overhaul.
Phil Richardson, a Media lecturer at Kingston, isn’t particular for or against changing the policy. At the same time, he believes that general paternity leave for fathers should be longer, particularly for first time fathers: “If it’s your first child, you should have a longer time off,” he said.
A Kingston University spokesperson said: “Kingston University’s staff policies, including paternity leave, are regularly reviewed to ensure they remain current and responsive. The paternity leave policy was last reviewed in 2024 and is under further review in line with legislative changes expected in 2026, ensuring our approach remains compliant and reflective of evolving societal expectations.
“As part of this process, we are assessing how best to support all parents, including news fathers, with options that balance legislative requirements and the needs of our staff.”