Earlier this month, the Government announced a formal review into parental leave and pay to understand how it could better support working families. They are calling for evidence to help consider the UK’s current system for leave and pay, which includes:
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Maternity leave and pay
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Paternity leave and pay
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Adoption leave and pay
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Shared parental leave and pay
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Parental bereavement leave and pay
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Parental leave (unpaid)
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Neonatal care leave and pay
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Maternity allowance
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A new employment right, currently under development – bereaved partner’s paternity leave (unpaid)
Review Objectives
The core objectives of the parental leave and pay review will focus on:
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Supporting physical and mental health
How can parental leave measures support the physical and mental health, recovery, and overall well-being of women during pregnancy and postpartum, and how can we ensure they have adequate time off work with appropriate pay? -
Boosting economic growth and career progression
How can our parental leave system work more effectively to boost economic growth by helping more parents remain in the workforce and advance careers after starting a family? In particular, consider how to improve women’s labour market outcomes, narrow the gender pay gap, reduce the “motherhood penalty,” and provide benefits for employers. -
Improving outcomes for children and families
Ensuring that new and expectant parents have sufficient resources and time away from work to support their well-being and facilitate the best start in life for babies and young children, promoting positive health and development outcomes. -
Empowering flexible parenting choices
Helping to empower parents to make balanced childcare choices that suit their family situation, including enabling co-parenting, whilst also aiming for flexibility that reflects the realities of modern work and childcare needs.
Call for Evidence: Have Your Say
This call for evidence is seeking the views, and evidence where available, in response to the following questions:
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Do you think that the current parental leave and pay entitlements support these objectives (noted above)?
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For each objective (as above), briefly explain the reasons for your selection. Please provide any evidence (including links) to support your view.
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Are there further or other objectives that you would like to see included as part of the parental leave and pay review? Please list and briefly explain each one, including providing links to any relevant evidence.
How to Submit Your Evidence
If you would like to have your say, and share your evidence on how the various forms of parental leave and pay operate, you can do so via online, email, or post to:
Parental Leave Review Team
Department for Business and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY
🕒 Deadline for submissions: 25 August 2025
