Government launches review of parental leave and pay

On 1 July, the Government launched a full review into parental leave and pay.

The review aims to examine all types of leave, including maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave, to make the system fairer, easier to use, more work-friendly, and better support working families. This comes as a result of findings that one in three fathers don’t take paternity leave because they cannot afford to, and that the take-up of shared parental leave is very low. The Government recognises that it is important for fathers and partners to be present in the early part of a child’s life, to play an active role in caring for the child. Research shows that better parental leave can help close the gender pay gap and boost the economy.

The review aims to gather views and provide a roadmap for potential reforms. The review is expected to report its conclusions and recommendations around January 2027.

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