Flexible parental leave
The Government has announced that it intends to introduce a new system of flexible parental leave because leave options for families are too rigid.
Pregnant employees are entitled to take a total period of 52 weeks' maternity leave. Fathers are eligible to take up to two weeks' ordinary paternity leave in addition to up to 26 weeks' additional paternity leave if their child is due on or after 3 April 2011 and where the mother returns to work before her maternity leave expires. Parental leave is a period of up to 13 weeks' leave available to employees who are parents of children under the age of five (or under 18 in certain circumstances).
The Government intends to implement a new system of flexible parental leave. It wishes to encourage shared parenting from the earliest stages of pregnancy. It has suggested that a more flexible system of family-friendly leave could include giving parents the choice to share leave or take leave at the same time.
The Government will consult with business on proposals to develop a new system of flexible parental leave in January 2011, with consultation to be completed by March 2011. It will analyse responses to the consultation and develop detailed plans between April and December 2011.
- BIS's business plan 2011-2015 (PDF format, 360K) View the business plan, which includes information on changes to family-friendly employment legislation, on the BIS website.
- The equality strategy - building a fairer Britain View the full equality strategy on the Government Equalities Office website.
Also
The XpertHR line manager briefings on basic maternity rights, paternity rights and parental leave cover the rights of employees to maternity and paternity leave and pay and parental leave.
Maternity leave: extension to 20 weeks rejected by EU ministers The Council of the European Union has rejected proposals to extend the minimum period of fully paid maternity leave to 20 weeks, which the European Parliament voted for in October 2010.
The XpertHR policies and documents service provides model policies, letters, contracts and forms on maternity rights, paternity rights and parental leave.
