Call for Evidence: Parental Leave and Pay Reform
The government has launched a call for evidence as part of its ongoing review of the parental leave and pay system. The aim is to test the current policy objectives and gather new insights on how well the system supports families, workers, and employers.
Key aims of the parental leave and pay system include:
- Supporting maternal health by ensuring women have adequate paid time off during and after pregnancy to recover and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing.
- Promoting economic growth by helping parents, especially women, stay in work, progress in their careers, and close gender pay gaps, while also benefiting employers.
- Giving families the time and support they need to nurture their child’s early development and wellbeing, ensuring the best possible start in life.
- Enabling parents to make flexible, balanced childcare choices that suit their family’s needs and support co-parenting in today’s working world.
The government invites feedback from a wide range of people and organisations, including parents, researchers, advocacy groups, businesses, and trade unions. An evidence annex has also been published by the government alongside this call, summarising what the government already knows about current parental leave and pay policies.
Start by reading the full call for evidence document, then submit your response through the online evidence survey. If you prefer to respond by email or have questions about this call for evidence, you can contact: [email protected]
This call for evidence is open to participants in England, Scotland, and Wales, and will remain open until 25 August 2025.
