A flagship government policy designed to revolutionise family life in the UK has been branded a "monumental dud" a decade after its introduction, with shockingly low uptake figures revealing its failure to transform the workplace.
A Decade of Disappointment
Introduced in 2015 by then Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson, Shared Parental Leave (SPL) was heralded as a transformative step. It gave parents the right to split up to 52 weeks of leave, including 39 weeks of statutory pay, following the birth or adoption of a child. However, ten years later, the reality is starkly different. Analysis shows that only about 5% of eligible men and 1% of eligible women have used the scheme.
Freedom of Information requests by the Guardian to major public sector employers found that a mere 1.55% of parental leave requests in the last five years were for SPL. Perhaps most damningly, a 2023 government assessment revealed that 45% of fathers had not even heard of the policy.
Why Has the Policy Failed?
The core reasons for the policy's failure are financial and structural. For most families, SPL simply doesn't make financial sense. Many companies offer enhanced maternity pay but do not match this for shared leave, meaning families often face a significant income drop if the father or partner takes time off. The system is also notoriously complex, with even HR professionals struggling to navigate it.
Critics argue the policy's existence has inadvertently provided cover for the UK's pathetically low statutory paternity pay. Fathers and non-birthing partners are entitled to just two weeks of leave paid at a minimum wage rate. This places the UK 40th out of 43 OECD countries and is the worst in Europe. Taking this leave costs the average earner over £1,000, leading a third of fathers to take no leave at all.
The policy has also entrenched inequality. Data from the Dad Shift campaign shows a full 95% of SPL is taken by fathers in the top half of earners, with uptake among middle and low earners declining yearly since 2015.
Glimmers of Hope and the Push for Change
Despite this "lost decade" of progress, campaigners see potential for change. In July, the government announced an 18-month review of parental leave. Furthermore, a cross-party campaign driven by fathers and supported by equality groups like the Fatherhood Institute, Pregnant Then Screwed, and the Fawcett Society is gaining momentum.
MPs are now calling for better-paid, ring-fenced leave for fathers and co-parents, with many advocating for at least one month of reserved, paid leave. The economic and social case is strong: evidence suggests boosting fatherly involvement shrinks the gender pay gap, strengthens family bonds, and could add an estimated £2.6 billion to the economy.
The benefits of both parents spending significant time with a new baby are well-documented, leading to happier families and a fairer division of domestic labour. After ten years of a policy that has largely failed, parents of the future will be hoping that genuine, effective reform is finally on the way.
