Recommendations & Conclusions
8 items
1
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
The UK’s rate of statutory parental pay is completely out of kilter with the cost of living. At considerably less than half of the National Living Wage and real Living Wage, it has not kept pace with inflation and is far below rates in most comparable countries. This causes financial …
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The UK’s rate of statutory parental pay is completely out of kilter with the cost of living. At considerably less than half of the National Living Wage and real Living Wage, it has not kept pace with inflation and is far below rates in most comparable countries. This causes financial hardship, particularly in lower income households, and is a barrier to parents taking the time they need to care for their babies. The low rate particularly inhibits take up of the very limited amount of statutory leave available to fathers and other parents, a disproportionately high number of whom are entirely reliant on the inadequate statutory minimum. (Conclusion, Paragraph 30)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of parents taking time off and that the parental leave system can do more to support families. It notes the annual review of statutory pay and states that the recently launched parental leave and pay review, which will last 18 …
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Government Equalities Office
3
Recommendation
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
In the longer term, the Government must also consider a feasible approach to phased introduction of increases to statutory pay across the system, to bring rates for all working parents up to a very substantial proportion (80% or more) of average earnings or the real Living Wage. Overall paid maternity …
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In the longer term, the Government must also consider a feasible approach to phased introduction of increases to statutory pay across the system, to bring rates for all working parents up to a very substantial proportion (80% or more) of average earnings or the real Living Wage. Overall paid maternity entitlements in the UK compare unfavourably with most developed countries; reform of statutory pay must therefore not include any diminution of existing maternity entitlements. (Recommendation, Paragraph 32) Extending paternity leave
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the recommendation to increase statutory pay but defers it to the ongoing parental leave and pay review, stating the review will consider how the system can promote economic growth and improve women's labour market outcomes.
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Government Equalities Office
7
Recommendation
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
The Government’s review must consider a feasible plan to incrementally increase the period of paid paternity leave, drawing on lessons from recent reform programmes overseas, for example in Spain. As an initial medium- term objective, it should set out a pathway to increasing paid statutory paternity leave to six weeks …
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The Government’s review must consider a feasible plan to incrementally increase the period of paid paternity leave, drawing on lessons from recent reform programmes overseas, for example in Spain. As an initial medium- term objective, it should set out a pathway to increasing paid statutory paternity leave to six weeks over the course of this Parliament. It should aim to ensure maximum flexibility in the number of blocks the leave can be taken in during the first year after a baby’s birth or adoption. The Government must also assess the likely benefits of making a portion of the extended period of paternity leave compulsory, to drive culture change and normalise fathers taking a greater role in caring responsibilities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 66)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of fathers' roles and will engage stakeholders through the parental leave and pay review. It highlights initial steps requiring employers to publish action plans that *may* promote parental leave policies, but does not commit to increasing paid paternity leave to …
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Government Equalities Office
9
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
While there is evidence of appetite for more leave among fathers across occupational and income groups, fathers in lower income and working-class occupational groups may face additional cultural barriers to taking leave. These households and communities are more likely to hold traditionalist views about gendered caring responsibilities, and these fathers …
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While there is evidence of appetite for more leave among fathers across occupational and income groups, fathers in lower income and working-class occupational groups may face additional cultural barriers to taking leave. These households and communities are more likely to hold traditionalist views about gendered caring responsibilities, and these fathers are less likely to have supportive employers. (Conclusion, Paragraph 68)
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Government response AI summary
The government recognizes low take-up of Shared Parental Leave and states it is in scope of the parental leave and pay review, which will gather evidence, consider simplification, and examine international models to inform future reforms.
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Government Equalities Office
14
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has clear benefits for couples who are able to access it. SPL enables a range of flexible options in how parents share their parental responsibilities and balance these with working life. It is the only aspect of our system that allows fathers and other parents an …
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Shared Parental Leave (SPL) has clear benefits for couples who are able to access it. SPL enables a range of flexible options in how parents share their parental responsibilities and balance these with working life. It is the only aspect of our system that allows fathers and other parents an extended period to care for their babies, strengthening bonds with their children and enhancing family life. The scheme’s flexibility allows mothers to maintain attachment to the labour market and career progression. There is evidence that mothers are increasingly aware of this and taking advantage of the flexibility the scheme allows. However, SPL’s complex set of employment status, time in service and earnings eligibility criteria exclude many working parents and are extremely difficult for most parents and their employers to understand. Take up is consequently too low to have a significant societal or economy-wide impact. (Conclusion, Paragraph 91)
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the benefits of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) but also its low take-up and awareness. It notes a change through the Employment Rights Bill to allow paternity leave after SPL and states that SPL is within the scope of the ongoing parental leave …
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Government Equalities Office
16
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
The Government’s review should examine barriers to flexibility in the SPL scheme, including the requirement for employees to give employers eight weeks’ notice of blocks of leave and changes to start and end dates for leave. This should be with a view, subject to consultation with employers, to reducing notice …
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The Government’s review should examine barriers to flexibility in the SPL scheme, including the requirement for employees to give employers eight weeks’ notice of blocks of leave and changes to start and end dates for leave. This should be with a view, subject to consultation with employers, to reducing notice periods and maximising flexibility within the scheme. (Recommendation, Paragraph 93)
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the committee's call for a full review of the parental leave and pay system, confirming it is underway, gathering evidence to identify opportunities for improvement and will publish findings and a roadmap for potential reforms.
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Government Equalities Office
17
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
The Government’s review must consider financial incentives to increase take up of SPL. The review should examine approaches taken in overseas systems, including the German “partnership bonus” and Portugal’s “sharing 59 bonus”, which provide additional paid leave to couples in which both parents take a substantial portion of leave while …
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The Government’s review must consider financial incentives to increase take up of SPL. The review should examine approaches taken in overseas systems, including the German “partnership bonus” and Portugal’s “sharing 59 bonus”, which provide additional paid leave to couples in which both parents take a substantial portion of leave while the other returns to paid work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 94) Extending access to paid leave
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Government response AI summary
The government confirms that the proposal to extend paternity leave, and its associated economic analysis, is being considered as part of the parental leave and pay review, which will conduct a robust assessment of costs and benefits for any policy options.
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Government Equalities Office
18
Conclusion
6th Report - Equality at work: Paternit…
Acknowledged
The Government’s review must include consideration of the needs of kinship carers, with a view to including them in the paid parental leave system. This should include consideration of the costs and wider benefits of implementing statutory paid leave for kinship carers, in line with provision for parents by adoption …
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The Government’s review must include consideration of the needs of kinship carers, with a view to including them in the paid parental leave system. This should include consideration of the costs and wider benefits of implementing statutory paid leave for kinship carers, in line with provision for parents by adoption and surrogacy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 102)
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Government response AI summary
The government states that the parental leave and pay review aims to reset the system, considering objectives like economic growth, women's labour market outcomes, and fairness, and will gather evidence to inform a future roadmap, but does not explicitly commit to including kinship carers in …
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Government Equalities Office