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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Joanna Partridge

Retail leads the way on paternity leave as government urged to improve offer

M&S Tesco United Kingdom Agriculture Usdaw
Joe Erskine kisses his sleeping newborn baby, wrapped in white and cradled close
M&S employee Joe Erskine says six weeks’ paid leave ‘made a huge difference’ to him and his family. Photograph: Joe Erskine

“Being able to take six weeks’ paid paternity leave, flexibly, made a huge difference to me and my family, giving me the time to support my partner and settle into being a new parent,” said Marks & Spencer employee Joe Erskine.

The food and clothing retailer increased its paternity leave offering from two to six weeks at full pay in 2024, meaning Erskine benefited from the new policy when his second child was born 17 months ago.

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