Recent CIPD research has been undertaken into working parents. The report can be found here: Employer Focus on Working Parents
The key findings of the research include:
- Most organisations interviewed (49%) have a paternity or partner leave policy that allows for the legal minimum requirement of one or two weeks’ leave. Only 3% allow three weeks’ leave and 9% allow for 4 weeks’ leave. A further 13% provide between 5 and 28 weeks’ leave.
- Over 36% of organisations interviewed provide the statutory minimum payments for paternity / partner pay. 16% provide 2 weeks of enhanced paternity at or near to the full rate of pay. 8% provide up to 4 weeks of enhanced paternity pay at or near the full rate of pay. Almost 9% provide between 5 to 28 weeks at or near the full rate of pay.
- Almost half of organisations interviewed would support extending statutory paternity leave and pay.
- Very few new fathers/partners and mothers have taken up the right to shared parental leave in the last two years. It appears that there is a downward trend in take-up.
CIPD has made some recommendations to policymakers including enhancing paternity/partner entitlements to 6 weeks at or near the full rate of pay. Further, there are recommendations around more financial support for parents returning to work after having babies and recommendations for the right to make a flexible working request to apply from day one of employment.
Astons Solicitors
9th September 2022