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‘Biggest shake-up in decades’ to paternity leave unnoticed as dads can't afford leave

Effective April 6, 2026, fathers and partners in the UK gained the right to paternity leave from their first day of employment, removing a long-standing requirement to have worked for an employer for at least 26 weeks.
A survey of 1,000 working adults by MATRI Coaching reveals that awareness of these reforms remains low, with fewer than three in 10 parents saying they understand the new rules.
Among parents who do not use the leave, 37% cite financial viability, 22% fear career harm, and 12% note stigma around men taking time off; experts say this points to cultural and structural barriers.
Sophie Maunder, founder of MATRI Coaching, called the changes a step forward, yet 42% of parents claim they do not go far enough, with 27% describing the system as "not fit for purpose."
The UK offers limited support compared with other European countries, as fathers are typically entitled to just two weeks of leave, while countries such as Spain provide significantly longer periods on full pay.

Insights by Ground AI