Couples fail to take shared parental leave

SHARED parental leave was used by just 13,100 couples last year, research by a law firm has found.

EMW, a commercial law firm, said the uptake of the policy increased by 23 per cent in the last financial year.

According to figures from HMRC, 3,000 couples took shared parental leave in the year ending March 2016.

It has increased year on year, with 10,000 couples signing up in the year ending March 2019. However, even the most recent figures make up a small fraction compared with the nearly 650,000 women who claimed maternity pay in the same period. EMW estimates only about 2 per cent of couples have used the scheme.

With shared leave, eligible parents can split up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay after having a baby.

This shared parental pay is paid at a maximum of £151.20 per week, the same rate as statutory maternity pay.

To be eligible for shared parental leave, a new parent needs to meet certain criteria, including having been employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks.

EMW has said more promotion of the shared parental leave scheme may be needed, as well as increasing the level of pay. Jon Taylor, principal at EMW, said: “If the Government is serious about closing the gender pay gap, raising the level of statutory parental pay would be a great place to start.”

A Government spokesperson said: “The Government is committed to making it easier for fathers to take paternity leave as set out in our manifesto. Shared parental leave gives parents the choice and flexibility to combine work and childcare in a way that suits them.

“We have consulted on how we can better balance the needs of mothers and fathers in parental leave and pay in the future and will respond in due course.”