A rethink of the UK’s parental leave system is needed, according to new research from the Institute for Policy Research (IPR). This work argues that meaningful improvements will require a more joined-up approach across maternity, paternity and shared leave.

What parents and prospective parents want from parental leave and the potential benefits of wider reform are explored in two new publications.

More time, better pay: What current and prospective parents want from parental leave examines public attitudes towards parental leave reform through a survey of more than 2,500 people. The research finds strong support for giving both mothers and fathers access to more generous leave arrangements. Respondents favoured longer periods of well-paid maternity leave, with support rising substantially (27 percentage points) when maternity leave paid at 90% of earnings was extended from six to 26 weeks. For fathers and partners, the level of pay mattered even more than the length of leave, with support increasing markedly (19 percentage points) when pay was raised from the statutory rate to 90% of earnings.

Sharing the load: Costs and benefits of parental leave reform discusses what a redesigned parental leave system might look like. Rather than focusing on individual elements of the system in isolation, the report argues that the government should look at maternity, paternity and shared leave together. It assesses the potential costs and benefits of a package of reforms that would improve leave provision for mothers and fathers, expand access to shared leave and extend support to self-employed parents. Such an approach could deliver benefits through improved parental wellbeing and higher numbers of mothers in the workforce. As a result, policymakers should consider a wider range of outcomes when evaluating reform. Alongside direct financial costs, factors such as parental wellbeing, family outcomes and labour market effects, while often more difficult to measure, can be significant, and are important for understanding the full impact of leave policies.

On the research, lead author Dr Joanna Clifton-Sprigg says: “More leave on paper is not enough if families cannot afford to use it. Our research shows strong support for more generous provision for both mothers and fathers, while the cost-benefit evidence suggests that well-designed reform could bring wider benefits for families, the labour market and society. The government should therefore rethink parental leave as a system, rather than reforming individual entitlements in isolation.”

Together, the publications contribute new evidence to debates about the future of parental leave in the UK. As policymakers consider potential changes to the current system, the authors argue that a comprehensive approach to reform, making leave more generous, could help to create a system that better supports families while delivering wider social and economic benefits.