Work permits for dads, what they are entitled to (and the difference with moms)

The employed father has the right to a series of leaves – paid and unpaid – to be used in all those cases in which he needs to dedicate himself to the needs of the family and in particular of his children.
Over the years, fathers have acquired a greater number of tools for protecting the right to parenthood, one above all the mandatory paternity leave which has risen to 10 days.
However, there is still a notable difference compared to working mothers, who have the obligation to abstain from working for 5 months, which can be enjoyed before (maximum 2 months) or after giving birth.
So much so that a debate has been underway for some time regarding the possibility of extending the possibility of taking advantage of the 5 months of compulsory leave to the father as well, alternatively with the mother.
While waiting for further developments in this regard, let's see what permits are currently available to workers who become fathers, as well as how much they are entitled to in individual cases.
Work permits for fathers Mandatory paternity leave Parental leave Breastfeeding leave Leaves for the child's illness Maternity leave for the father too? Mandatory paternity leave In 2024 the father has the right to mandatory paternity leave lasting 10 days (which rises to 20 days in the case of multiple births).
You can benefit from it, not necessarily continuously (but it cannot be divided into hours), in the period from 2 months before the expected date of birth to 5 months following the birth, or more simply during the mother's maternity leave.
working mother.
The advantage of this benefit is that 100% of the salary is due, thus not causing any disadvantage on the pay slip.
The application must be sent to the employer, in written form, at least 5 days before when you intend to take the leave.
Parental leave Except for the case of compulsory paternity leave, which is much shorter than maternity leave, there are no other significant differences between working fathers and mothers.
For example, fathers are also entitled to parental leave for a total of 7 months (one more than the mother) which can be enjoyed by the child's 12th birthday.
If the mother's period of abstention is also considered, parental leave cannot exceed 10 months (11 in the event that the father has been absent for at least 3 months).
Parental leave is usually paid at 30%, but within the limit of 9 months of which a maximum of 6 months per parent.
However, for parents who returned from compulsory leave in 2023, the first month is compensated at 80%, while for events after 2024 the increased compensation is due for the first two months.
Unlike compulsory paternity leave, parental leave can also be taken by the hour.
Breastfeeding leave The working mother returning from compulsory maternity leave has the right, as an alternative to parental leave, to the so-called breastfeeding leave.
Even if called this way, it is intended to meet any need of the son or daughter, which is why the father can also enjoy it.
The important thing is that it is not used on the same days that the mother is already doing it.
These are hourly rest periods: 2 hours a day, or 1 hour for those who work part-time hours of less than 6 hours.
The advantage is that they are paid 100%.
It can be used up to the child's first year of life as long as the request is made directly to INPS (while the mother asks the employer).
Leave for the child's illness The worker also has leave for the child's illness, a period of optional abstention to be enjoyed if the children are ill (a condition which must be confirmed by a specific medical certificate which must be delivered upon return at work).
This leave is unpaid: it is therefore only suitable for justifying the absence and avoiding the risk of a sanction.
The duration depends on the age of the child to whom the event refers: there are no limits until the child turns 3, as long as the parents are absent alternately.
Between the ages of 3 and 8, however, each parent can be absent for a maximum of 5 days.
Maternity leave for the father too? In an era in which the role of the father and mother are continually called into question, aiming for an equality between the parties, there are those who believe that the difference between the duration of compulsory leave for maternity (5 months) and paternity (10 days).
On the other hand, this difference makes sense when the worker enjoys leave even during the pregnancy period, with the instrument therefore having as its aim the protection of the health of both the mother and the unborn child; however, over the years, more and more employees are using it entirely after giving birth so as to dedicate themselves entirely to the baby's needs.
So does it still make sense to talk about compulsory leave that is completely exclusive to the mother? According to the opposition, no, so much so that there is a unitary proposal aimed at extending the right to 5 months' salary to the father too, so as to counteract the prejudice regarding the employment of women who go on maternity leave.