What's happened
Recent data reveals that only 10,600 new fathers in the UK took shared parental leave in 2023-24, a stark contrast to 623,100 women on maternity leave. The scheme is criticized for being elitist and underutilized, particularly among lower earners.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Independent, campaign group The Dad Shift highlights that only 10,600 fathers took shared parental leave in the last tax year, contrasting sharply with the 623,100 women who took maternity leave. Alex Lloyd Hunter, co-founder of The Dad Shift, stated, "this is a failed policy; British families and British fathers deserve better."
BBC News reports that the scheme, introduced to promote father involvement, has not benefited all dads equally, with a significant uptake disparity based on income. George Gabriel, another co-founder of The Dad Shift, noted, "In terms of working families, it has completely failed."
The Guardian emphasizes the need for systemic change, pointing out that child maintenance issues compound the challenges faced by single-parent households. Polly Toynbee argues for more effective enforcement of child support laws, highlighting the ongoing struggles of separated mothers to secure maintenance payments. This context underscores the broader societal implications of inadequate parental leave policies.
How we got here
Shared parental leave was introduced in 2014 to allow parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave. However, recent findings show that the uptake is heavily skewed towards higher earners, with only 5% of claims coming from the bottom half of earners.
Common question
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Why are so few fathers taking shared parental leave in the UK?
Despite the introduction of shared parental leave in 2014, recent statistics reveal a significant disparity in uptake between mothers and fathers. With only 10,600 fathers taking advantage of this policy compared to over 623,000 mothers on maternity leave, many are questioning the effectiveness of the scheme. This raises further inquiries about the criticisms surrounding shared parental leave and its implications on gender roles in parenting.
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