Why Shared Parental Leave Has Been a Monumental Dud Policy
Ten years after the introduction of shared parental leave (SPL) in 2015, the policy remains vastly underused, with only about 5% of eligible men and 1% of eligible women taking advantage of it. Freedom of information requests reveal that SPL accounts for just 1.55% of parental leave requests in the past five years. A 2023 government assessment found that approximately 45% of fathers were unaware of the policy.
SPL allows up to 52 weeks of leave, including up to 39 weeks of pay. However, it is often financially unattractive. Many employers offer higher pay for mothers on maternity leave but not for fathers, and the scheme itself is complex, with no dedicated days set aside specifically for each parent. Around 95% of SPL is taken by fathers in the top half of earners, while uptake has declined among middle- and low-earning groups since the policy's inception.
The scheme has arguably served as a fig leaf for persistently low paternity pay, which remains at two weeks on minimum wage—the worst among OECD countries in Europe. Taking only two weeks off can cost the average earner over £1,000, and about one-third of fathers take no leave at all. In July, the government announced an 18-month review of parental leave policies. An Employment Rights Bill is also expected to grant rights to paternity and parental leave from day one of employment, though pay rights will be introduced at a later stage.
Campaigns led by organizations such as the Fatherhood Institute, Pregnant then Screwed, and the Fawcett Society, alongside MPs, advocate for extended paid leave for fathers and co-parents, proposing at least a month of paid leave. Supporters highlight the health and social benefits of shared parental leave, including improved father–child bonding, happier couples, and potential reductions in the gender pay gap. Some estimates suggest SPL could contribute around £2.6 billion to the economy.
Overall, shared parental leave is seen as a "lost decade" of progress, but there remains hope for meaningful change through upcoming policy reviews and stronger commitments to paid leave.
