Research Sparks Concern Over UK's Failing Shared Parental Leave Policy

By John Pranay (Editor)

A "lost decade" of progress on parental rights in the UK has been criticized by experts, following research that suggests fewer than one in 60 public sector workers share parental leave with their partners. The policy, introduced in 2015, aimed to promote "culture change" but has failed to deliver, with only 1.55% of parental leave requests made in the last five years being for shared parental leave. The UK government has launched an 18-month review of the parental leave system, but critics warn that "tinkering around the edges" will not be enough to address the issue.

The UK's shared parental leave policy was introduced in 2015, allowing parents to split up to 52 weeks of leave, including up to 39 weeks of statutory shared parental pay. However, despite its promise, the policy has failed to gain traction, with only 5% of eligible men and 1% of eligible women using it. The policy's architects, including Jo Swinson, have acknowledged its shortcomings, citing a lack of government support and a built-in bias towards richer couples. Campaigners and policy shapers have long argued that the policy is a failure, with a key study from the University of Bath finding that it has "fallen flat".

The UK's parental leave system has a history of controversy and criticism. In 2015, the Conservative government introduced shared parental leave, but it was met with skepticism by many campaigners and experts. A 2023 evaluation of the policy found that only 1% of eligible mothers and 5% of eligible fathers used it. In recent years, there have been calls for better-paid leave for dads, with some MPs supporting at least a month of paid leave reserved for fathers and co-parents. Equality campaigners have long argued that a levelling of the domestic field is vital for tackling entrenched gender equalities.

The UK's failure to implement an effective shared parental leave policy has significant implications for families and the economy. The policy's bias towards richer couples has created a class issue, with normal blokes priced out of early weeks and months with their babies. This has led to a situation where only 1 in 20 average- or low-paid dads take shared parental leave, compared to 1 in 10 in 2015. The policy's failure also highlights the need for more comprehensive and equitable parental leave policies, which could have far-reaching consequences for families, businesses, and the economy.

The UK government's 18-month review of the parental leave system is expected to be a crucial test of its commitment to addressing the issue. Campaigners and policy shapers are calling for bold measures to improve the policy, including better-paid leave for dads and a more comprehensive and equitable parental leave system. The review is expected to report in 2027, but critics warn that "tinkering around the edges" will not be enough to address the issue.

The UK's shared parental leave policy is a stark example of how well-intentioned policies can fail to deliver. Despite its promise, the policy has become a preserve of higher earners, with only 1 in 20 average- or low-paid dads taking shared parental leave. This is a consequence of the policy's bias towards richer couples and the lack of government support. Crucially, this overlooks the fact that proper paternity leave is not just good for dads, but mums and babies too. The policy's failure highlights the need for more comprehensive and equitable parental leave policies, which could have far-reaching consequences for families, businesses, and the economy. This suggests that the UK's parental leave system is in need of a fundamental overhaul, rather than just tinkering around the edges.

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Bearish.

1. 'Lost decade' of progress after UK introduced shared parental leave, say experts — https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/dec/25/lost-decade-progress-uk-shared-parental-leave

2. Why shared parental leave is a monumental dud of a policy — https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/dec/25/why-shared-parental-leave-monumental-dud-policy

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.