New plans to boost parental leave for both fathers and mothers were announced this week by the Government. Business secretary Vince Cable has insisted that mothers will still have six weeks guaranteed maternity leave after birth. But as part of the new proposals, mother and father could take another month on full pay at a time of their own choosing, as long as it is in the baby’s first year.
Once the baby is five months old, the next seven months would be flexible parental leave so the parents could either vary who cares for the child over its first year, or both take leave at the same time.
Perhaps not surprisingly, business leaders aren’t enthusiastic. A spokesperson for the British Chamber of Commerce said: ‘We are concerned by proposals to increase the total period of parental leave by another four weeks, given the UK already offers some of the most generous provisions in the world.’
However, Cable responded: ‘Family life has been transformed in recent decades, and the traditional stereotypes no longer apply. Most women now go out to work and men – hopefully – shoulder more of the duties at home.’
He gave an example of a female account director on maternity leave when her an advertising agency has an important pitch. ‘The female account director knows the client well, but is on maternity leave. Under the new system, the agency could ask her if she’d like to return just for the project and go back on leave after. Under the current system, however, she’d lose her statutory rights. There are hundreds of similar examples across the economy where businesses stand to gain from the extra flexibility.’
The new regulations are expected to be in force by 2015.