#parentalleave

📅 Published by Matthew Chilcott – FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR

Recent calls for the UK Government to undertake a comprehensive review of parental leave have reignited discussions around how businesses can better support working families while remaining legally compliant and operationally efficient. At Consensus HR, we welcome any reforms that aim to modernise and improve the current system and encourage all employers to stay informed and proactive when it comes to family-friendly HR policies.

📌 Why Is a Review Being Urged?

Many business leaders, employment law experts, and family advocacy groups are arguing that the current Shared Parental Leave (SPL) scheme is underutilised, complex, and fails to meet the modern needs of working parents. A comprehensive review would aim to assess:

• The effectiveness and accessibility of SPL.
• Gender equality in childcare responsibilities.
• Support for self-employed parents.
• The alignment of UK policies with international best practices.

⚖️ HR Implications for Employers

If a government review goes ahead, it could result in:

• Changes to statutory leave entitlements (e.g. Maternity, Paternity, and Shared Parental Leave).
• Updated employer obligations and timelines.
• Increased emphasis on flexible working and parental support policies.

Employers must remain adaptable and ensure that their Employee Handbooks, contracts of employment, and HR policies reflect any upcoming legislative changes. Failure to comply with revised regulations could result in tribunal claims or reputational damage.

💼 How Consensus HR Can Help

At Consensus HR, we work with businesses of all sizes to ensure they are fully compliant with UK employment law. Whether you’re reviewing your family leave policies, updating contracts of employment, or supporting a team member during a period of parental leave, we provide straight-talking, practical HR support.

We also keep our retained clients updated with any changes in legislation and offer tailored advice to ensure your business is prepared and protected.

💬 Comment from Matthew Chilcott – FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR:

“We support the need for a review of parental leave. At Consensus HR, we see firsthand how confusing current parental leave rules can be for both employers and employees. A simpler, more inclusive system would benefit everyone and support a better work-life balance. Our role is to ensure our clients are ready for any changes while continuing to create supportive, legally compliant workplaces.”

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Need advice on parental leave or other HR matters?
📞 Contact Consensus HR today and discover how we help businesses like yours prevent people problems.