Recommendation 15

The shift to remote working has had significant ramifications for people with caring responsibilities. We heard evidence that the number of men undertaking DWP’s preparations for changes in the world of work 51 unpaid childcare has increased during the pandemic. Increased volatility in the labour market has resulted in more people transitioning between jobs, meaning that some parents have missed out on entitlements such as paternity leave. Future changes may lead to greater disruption in the labour market, which in turn may affect new parents’ entitlement to parental leave and benefits. The Government must ensure that support for parents keeps pace with changes in the labour market. We recommend that DWP should consider the potential benefits of introducing a day one right to paternity leave and an equivalent of Maternity Allowance for new fathers and adoptive parents. It should work with other government departments and stakeholders to explore how this could be achieved.