A new research recently revealed that thousands of new fathers are actually missing out on their legal right to file for paternity leave because they do not now of the notice period that they must file with their employers.

Based on the current policy, men must request the statutory two week time off about 15 weeks before the expected birth date of the child. The said time period is identical to what women must declare for their 12 month maternity leave.

But the Citizens Advice
(CA), the largest advice charity in Northern Ireland and a leading force for social needs in the UK, has expressed its reservations over the notice period. The group said the notice, which is almost eight times required to take off two weeks holiday is unfairly proportioned and should be reduced.

Ever since the statutory parental leave became a law in 2003, CA has said its offices have entertained inquiries from men whose requests for a paternity leave have been denied. There were also feedback from some men who were too afraid to ask for a leave to which they are entitled.

The CA report also added that the government must study the new proposals that will allow fathers to take a section of maternity leave that the mother will not use and instead just give men better paid paternity leaves as is their right.

Company formation and business solutions experts are hoping that more equitable ways of addressing paternity leaves will be studied by the government but also weighing in its impact on businesses.

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