Since introducing up to two weeks of paid statutory paternity leave over 20 years ago, the UK has fallen far behind many comparable countries. We now have one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers and other parents. A maximum of two weeks paternity leave is completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities and balance these with working life. Our system entrenches outdated gender stereotypes about caring and harms fathers, mothe...

Since introducing up to two weeks of paid statutory paternity leave over 20 years ago, the UK has fallen far behind many comparable countries. We now have one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers and other parents. A maximum of two weeks paternity leave is completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities and balance these with working life. Our system entrenches outdated gender stereotypes about caring and harms fathers, mothers and families. The system requires substantial change. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64) Type: conclusion | Number: 5 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: The government recognises that more can be done to support working families and facilitate the best start in life for babies and young children. We know that the system needs to reflect the required flexibility for the realities of modern work and childcare needs, which is why through the Employment