Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has called on businesses to adopt more family-friendly policies after research showed many fathers struggle to get time off to look after children.

Results from a Mumsnet survey revealed that 39% of new dads have used annual leave to get time off after their child was born, while four in five respondents said they had wanted the father to take more paternity leave.

Last month Deloitte, PwC and Shell, employing between them more than 100,000 people in the UK, announced they would offer enhanced paternity packages to all employees.

Clegg is at the CBI this morning, hosting a forum with Mumsnet and large employers to discuss how business can retain parents in the workforce by offering balanced employment contracts.

“It is bizarre that even in the 21st century, hundreds and thousands of employees are still restricted by Edwardian rules when it comes to juggling their work and family lives,” he said.

“We need a modern Britain that works for modern families, not against them. I’ve fought hard in government to bring about that change whether it’s through the introduction of flexible working, free childcare, shared parental leave or equalising paternity pay.”