Under new regulations which will include not only public sector workers, as is currently the case, but also those in the private sector, both parents will be able to apply for breastfeeding leave, although not concurrently if both are working.
Breastfeeding leave can be requested whether the mother is working or not, but where both parents are working, it cannot be concurrent or shared but either parent can apply.
Last year, 618 fathers in the public sector took advantage of breastfeeding leave, compared to 2,300 mothers.
Still trying to work this one out. If the mother – and the necessary tools – are at work and the man takes the leave, how does he achieve the objective? Surely it boils down to just ‘extra days off’.