So too, since its inception in 2015, has the Shared Parental Leave policy in the United Kingdom faced rebuke. New data paints a picture that eligible fathers and non-birthing partners still are largely unaware and not using the policy. Surprising new research has shown that 45% of fathers were unaware of the policy. This is worrisome because the policy could significantly contribute toward improving gender equality and family relationships.
Within the awful confines of the Shared Parental Leave framework, fathers and non-birthing partners only have two weeks leave available. During this leave, the worker is paid at most the minimum wage. It’s easy to see why everyone thinks this two-week limit is too little time. Taking a day off can end up costing the average wage earner more than £1,000. As a result, one in three fathers choose not to take any leave. Alarmingly, just 5% of eligible men actually take Shared Parental Leave. Even more alarming, less than 1% of eligible women utilize it, calling into question the accessibility and effectiveness of the program.
Since the policy’s launch, advocates and experts have ripped the policy for its flaws. The UK has the most miserly statutory paternity leave in Europe. On that metric alone, it ranks 40th out of 43 OECD countries. Shared Parental Leave has the potential to add a staggering £2.6 billion to the economy. As this program stands today, participation rates are biased in favor of wealthier couples. Astonishingly, fathers in the upper earning half have accounted for 95% of Shared Parental Leave. This statistic indicates a great inequality in access along the lines of SES.
Advocates for gender equality, such as the Fatherhood Institute, Pregnant Then Screwed and the Fawcett Society are all strong advocates of Shared Parental Leave. They think it is crucial for overcoming entrenched gender disparities in the labor market. There’s plenty of evidence showing that increasing the uptake of Shared Parental Leave can further help to close the gender pay gap. Yet, given low awareness and participation rates, the policy’s impact is still fairly minimal.
In 2013 then Minister Jo Swinson announced her proposals for Shared Parental Leave while eight months pregnant. She wanted to normalize co-parenting between unmarried parents. While well-intended, this gap in understanding and action illustrates the policy’s failure to relate with its intended audience. This disconnect demonstrates that we need a better approach.
In July the government launched an 18 month study of parental leave policies, including Shared Parental Leave. This review is an opportunity for all stakeholders to come together to ensure we resolve the critical issues that threaten the promise of this critical policy. Equality campaigners are still working to push for updates to Shared Parental Leave that would make it more inclusive and beneficial to all families.