Claire McCartney, policy and practice manager at the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development, who gave evidence to the Committee, said:
“We welcome this report from the WEC and its calls for the government to ensure a meaningful review of the UK’s parental leave system, that fits the reality of working parents’ lives. The system in its current form isn’t working, and there needs to be a holistic and thorough review from government, that supports better, fairer and fuller employment.
“In particular, we’re pleased to see the WEC’s recommendations to increase paternity leave up to six weeks at or near the full rate of pay, through a phased approach, and to simplify the currently very complicated shared parental leave system. The CIPD has called for statutory paternity leave and pay to be extended, to help balance caring responsibilities, provide much-needed financial support to working parents and assist with retention.
“It’s also important that the government review considers lessons learnt from successful international approaches and the steps it can take to reduce wider cultural and societal barriers to fathers taking more leave.”
