Today is a landmark moment for fathers across the UK and beyond – the world’s first ever #DadStrike is happening right now, and we’re proud to be standing shoulder to shoulder with dads everywhere demanding change.
Back in 2013, when Dadsnet first launched, our tagline was:
“’Cos Dads Have Babies Too.”
More than a decade later, those words feel more relevant than ever.
Because while fatherhood has changed, the policies and support structures around it haven’t. And today, dads are making it clear: we’ve had enough.
Why Are We Striking?
Because in 2025, the idea of dads being sidelined in the parenting journey is still far too common – and the numbers show just how deep the problem goes:
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📅 Statutory paternity leave, introduced in 2003, still gives dads just 2 weeks off work after their baby is born.
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💷 It’s paid at £187.18 per week or 90% of average weekly earnings – whichever is lower. That’s less than half the National Living Wage.
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🌍 The UK now has one of the worst paternity leave policies in the developed world. Compare that with:
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Sweden, where families receive 480 days of paid leave – with 90 days reserved for fathers.
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Spain, where dads get 16 weeks off at full pay.
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Shared Parental Leave: A Good Idea, Poorly Used
Yes, Shared Parental Leave (SPL) exists. It lets parents split up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay. But:
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❌ It’s used in fewer than 2% of eligible births.
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🤯 Nearly half of all dads (45%) don’t even know it’s an option.
Awareness, accessibility, and societal expectations are all contributing to a system that’s simply not working.
The Financial Inequality is Shocking
This isn’t just about fairness – it’s about where the money goes:
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In 2023/24, the government spent £3.3 billion on statutory maternity pay.
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In contrast, only £69 million went on paternity pay, and £34.4 million on SPL.
That means only 3% of the total spent on parental leave supported dads and non-birthing parents. If we’re serious about equality in parenting, this has to change.
Investing in Dads Isn’t Just Right – It’s Smart
The data backs it up:
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For every £1 spent on paternity leave, there’s a return of 80p – with total growth driven at 12 times the cost.
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And that’s without even factoring in the NHS savings from reducing paternal postnatal depression – which is a very real, and rising, issue.
This Is About More Than Time Off – It’s About Culture
Today’s #DadStrike is about making noise. It’s about sending a message that fatherhood matters, and policy must catch up with reality.
We’re proud to be part of it.
If you believe dads deserve better than two weeks of underpaid leave, if you believe in equality for all parents, and if you believe our children deserve more involved, empowered fathers – then this moment is for you too.
👉 Read more about the strike and how to support it here.
And if you’re striking today – we see you, we stand with you, and we’re shouting loud.
