Does your organisation provide fair and equal leave and pay for all new parents? The Government has launched a full 18-month review of family-related leave and the Employment Rights Bill is set to introduce some changes in this area.

In the meantime higher expectations among the workforce appear to be prompting organisations to take matters into their own hands and to develop ambitious new policies.

In this episode of the podcast Zeba Sayed, senior legal editor at Brightmine, talks to Becs Peedell, employment lawyer at Lewis Silkin, about her organisation's equal new parent policy - and how it is seeking to encourage other firms to follow suit.

Read the transcript

Resources

Equalised new parent leave policy

How Lewis Silkin developed and rolled out its equalised new parent leave policy

Statutory neonatal care leave: What HR needs to know

On your radar - Employment Rights Bill updates and HR mythbusting

Key Takeaways

• The podcast discusses UK parental leave, the newly launched Government review and law firm Lewis Silkin's equalised new parent leave policy.
• UK statutory leave offers 52 weeks for mothers, 1-2 weeks for fathers, and shared parental leave, but uptake is low and policies are seen as outdated.
• Lewis Silkin's policy gives all new parents up to 52 weeks' leave, with 26 weeks at full pay for those with a year's service. Leave can be taken flexibly.
• The policy has seen high uptake, including among fathers, and has cost more than expected, but is viewed as a success for workplace equality.
• The firm encourages other organisations to consider similar policies, emphasising stakeholder buy-in and operational planning.