Have you just become a new Dad, or are you just about to? Congratulations!  Did you know that 91% of new Dads take time off around the birth of their child?  Quite naturally, you’ll want to spend as much time with your new addition as you can.  To help you make the most of your time with your child now and over the years to come you now have a number of rights:

• Paternity Leave – new Dads can take two weeks’ paid leave, you need to notify your employer 15 weeks before the baby is due so make sure you talk to them in advance about your plans – don’t leave it until the last minute.
• Flexible Working – you can ask your employer for options like part time, flexi time, working from home and more.
• Parental Leave – You also have the right to take up to 13 weeks’ unpaid leave until your child is five years old.

Find out more about your options, your rights as a working Dad and whether they apply to you at www.direct.gov.uk/dadsatwork

Don’t hold back, talk to your employer!  More and more companies are recognising that helping their staff achieve a better work-life balance encourages loyalty and increases job satisfaction (which is obviously good for them too!). So if you’re a new Dad, talk to your employer about what you can do.