Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted in Part
Simplify or remove Shared Parental Leave's complex eligibility criteria to widen access.
Recommendation
The Government must consider steps to address flaws in SPL, increase take up and widen access. The Government’s review must examine the function and necessity of SPL’s complex eligibility criteria, with a view to simplifying or removing the employment status, time in service and earnings criteria. Its objective for reforms of SPL must be to widen access to as broad a range of working parents as possible, including the self-employed and those on lower incomes. (Recommendation, Paragraph 92)
Government Response Summary
The government commits to removing the requirement that Paternity Leave and Pay must be taken before Shared Parental Leave to offer more flexibility. However, the broader examination of SPL's complex eligibility criteria, with a view to simplifying or removing them and widening access, will be considered as part of the ongoing parental leave and pay review.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Shared Parental Leave was introduced in 2015 to allow families to more equally split childcare and allow fathers to spend a significant period of time with their child should the family wish. The Shared Parental Leave evaluation report, commissioned in 2019, assessed whether the implementation of Shared Parental Leave achieved its original objectives. Parents have reported benefits for their work-life balance, including more choice and flexibility over balancing work and caring arrangements, and encouraging parents to share childcare responsibilities. Through the Employment Rights Bill we will remove the requirement that Paternity Leave and Pay must be taken before Shared Parental Leave, so that parents have more flexibility in how they take their leave. However, the government recognises that take up and awareness of Shared Parental Leave among employees is low and welcomes the committee’s specific recommendations in relation to Shared Parental Leave. Along with all other existing parental leave and pay entitlements, Shared Parental Leave is in scope of the parental leave and pay review. The review will expand our existing evidence base to understand what is and what is not working well for families and employers and consider opportunities for simplifying the system. The review represents an opportunity to reset our approach to parental leave and pay and what we want the system to achieve; a consideration of Shared Parental Leave will be key to this. This will include looking at international models, such as those highlighted by the committee, and drawing on stakeholder expertise to form recommendations and a roadmap of any proposed reforms.