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Parental leave is key for new mums and dads so they can care for and bond with their little ones during those early days.
Coldplay's Chris Martin understands the importance of this and is supporting a new law that will boost shared parental leave for the self-employed, the Huffington Post reports.
Employed mothers and fathers have had the right to share their parental leave since 2015.
However, self-employed mums who have just welcomed a child must take their statutory maternity allowance all at once and can't go back on leave after doing any work. As well, self-employed dads and partners cannot access shared parental leave or pay.
Now there is proposed legislation being put forth by Labour MP Tracy Brabin, a former Coronation Street actor, that would extend parental leave so it's an option for self-employed people as well.
This issue is especially important to Chris as the law would help the many people he works with in the music industry. Indeed, 44 percent of people in creative industries are self-employed.
"So many of our crew, both in the studio and on the road, are freelance, and we don’t want to lose half of that talent when they become parents," the father-of-two told the Huffington Post.
"We want them to be able to share their parenting in a way that works for them, and isn’t dictated by being a man or a woman."
Indeed, advocacy group Pregnant Then Screwed have praised the proposed law as an important sign of progress towards gender quality.
The legislation is being proposed in Parliament today. Other high-profile supporters of the measure include Keane and folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling.
Has this issue affected you or someone you know who is self-employed?
