Retail leads the way on paternity leave as government urged to improve offer
News Source
β’Sun, 25 Oct 2026 10:00:01 GMT
π° What Happened
Some UK retailers now give new fathers six weeks of paid paternity leave. Marks and Spencer and Tesco both pay full wages for that time. The legal minimum is only two weeks. M&S raised its offer from two weeks to six in 2024. One employee, Joe Erskine, said the extra time made a huge difference. It let him support his partner and settle into being a new parent.
π The Backstory
Research from campaign group The Dad Shift and Ian Dinwiddy of Inspiring Dads compared big employers. Retail came out ahead of construction, manufacturing and agriculture. Ikea, Lego and Virgin Media O2 also offer more fully paid weeks. Asda, Waitrose and others have improved their policies too. Campaigners want the government to lift the legal minimum so all fathers get the same chance.
π― Why It Matters
The first weeks of a child's life matter. Better leave helps parents share the load, and it should not depend on your job.
Some UK retailers now give new fathers six weeks of paid paternity leave. Marks and Spencer and Tesco both pay full wages for that time. The legal minimum is only two weeks. M&S raised its offer from two weeks to six in 2024. One employee, Joe Erskine, said the extra time made a huge difference. It let him support his partner and settle into being a new parent.
Research from campaign group The Dad Shift and Ian Dinwiddy of Inspiring Dads compared big employers. Retail came out ahead of construction, manufacturing and agriculture. Ikea, Lego and Virgin Media O2 also offer more fully paid weeks. Asda, Waitrose and others have improved their policies too. Campaigners want the government to lift the legal minimum so all fathers get the same chance.
The first weeks of a child's life matter. Better leave helps parents share the load, and it should not depend on your job.