Government's evaluation of parental leave policies should take into account the authentic daily routines of working parents.
The UK government has launched a comprehensive review of the country's parental leave system, aiming to modernise, inclusify, and support the system, particularly for fathers, self-employed parents, and diverse family structures. The 18-month review, announced in July 2025, is expected to produce a roadmap for potential reforms [3][4].
One of the key proposals is to **extend paid paternity leave** for eligible employees. The recommended increase is to six weeks during this parliamentary term, with paternity pay becoming a day-one right for these employees. This extension aims to give fathers more time with their newborns and promote equal caregiving responsibilities [1][2].
Paternity pay is also set to increase, matching maternity pay for the first six weeks, which currently stands at 90% of average earnings. The long-term goal is to raise pay for all working parents to at least 80% of earnings or the Real Living Wage, reducing financial barriers to taking leave [1][2].
To boost uptake, the review suggests introducing more flexible leave options within the first year of a child’s life and considering the introduction of a compulsory portion of extended paternity leave. These measures are seen as ways to drive cultural change and normalise shared caregiving among parents [1].
The review also addresses the needs of self-employed parents, recommending the introduction of a Paternity Allowance equivalent to Maternity Allowance and removing restrictive rules about self-employed work during leave [1].
The complicated shared parental leave system in the UK is targeted for simplification. The current system is criticised for its complexity and design flaws, and simplifying it is suggested to better support shared caregiving and reduce gender disparities in parental leave uptake [1][2].
The UK government is encouraged to take steps to reduce barriers that prevent fathers from taking more leave, considering ways to reduce cultural and societal barriers for fathers taking more leave [1].
The Women and Equalities Committee recommends increasing paternity leave to up to six weeks at or near the full rate of pay, while the CIPD supports these recommendations, believing that extending paternity leave and pay will provide much-needed financial support to working parents [1][2][4].
Consultation with employers, representative bodies, and working parents is encouraged throughout the government review. The aim of the consultation is to ensure the recommendations from the review are practical, workable, and likely to bring about real change [1].
The CIPD has given evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee in support of these recommendations, adding to the strong cross-party and public momentum towards longer, better-paid paternity leave, alongside simplifying shared parental leave, to promote gender equality, improve child and family wellbeing, and modernise the system to reflect contemporary family dynamics [1][2][4].
Sources: [1] CIPD (2025). Modern Workplaces: The CIPD's submission to the Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry into Parental Leave and Pay. Retrieved from https://www.cipd.co.uk/ [2] Fawcett Society (2025). A Modern Parental Leave System for the UK: A Submission to the Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry into Parental Leave and Pay. Retrieved from https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/ [3] UK Government (2025). Government Launches Review into Parental Leave and Pay. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/ [4] Women and Equalities Committee (2025). Inquiry into Parental Leave and Pay. Retrieved from https://committees.parliament.uk/
- The extension of paid paternity leave is one of the key proposals in the comprehensive UK government review aimed at modernizing the parental leave system.
- The review recommends introducing more flexible leave options within the first year of a child’s life to boost uptake and normalize shared caregiving among parents.
- The review addresses the needs of self-employed parents, suggesting the introduction of a Paternity Allowance equivalent to Maternity Allowance and removing restrictive rules about self-employed work during leave.
- The UK government is encouraged to take steps to reduce barriers that prevent fathers from taking more leave, with a focus on reducing cultural and societal barriers for fathers taking more leave.
