More than half of fathers do not take the two weeks’ paternity leave they are entitled to, according to a study by YouGov for ING Direct.

The survey found that 45% of fathers said financial constraints were a key reason for staying longer at work. Unsympathetic bosses were another factor, and urgently being needed back at work was another reason cited.

The survey found that fathers could suffer a loss of £724 in earnings over the two weeks’ leave if the statutory pay of £108.85 a week was not supplemented by employers.

It found that 58% of fathers took less than a week off.