Call for two weeks' paternity leave

ALL dads should be paid two weeks' paternity leave to improve wellbeing and work productivity.

In a wishlist for political parties ahead of the federal election, 11 policy leading lights from across the nation make a range of suggestions, including allowing workers to choose part-time over full-time work, more work-from-home options and restrictions on long or unsocial hours.

"A growing body of international research shows that giving workers more say over their work-time arrangements improves the wellbeing of workers and their households," said University of Sydney Work and Family Policy co-convener Elizabeth Hill. "The evidence-based policy principles set out in our document are informed by the latest Australian and international research."The document, Benchmarks for Work and Family Policies in Election 2007, will help rate the major parties' work-family policies prior to the poll.

Another contributor to the forum, Professor Barbara Pocock, said flexible work hours improved staff retention rates.

Tags: Paternityleave, Paternity