This project evaluates the 2015 Shared Parental Leave (SPL) reform in the UK. Specifically, it will use longitudinal household data collected in Understanding Society and econometric analysis to assess the impact of the policy, considering take up by fathers, whether it affected the length of leave taken by mothers, as well as any changes in labour market outcomes of mothers and fathers relative to pre-reform years.
Transition out of and back into work following birth of a child can fundamentally alter the shape of the working lives of parents, particularly mothers. Women in the UK adjust their labour market behaviour after childbirth more than men and women in other European countries. This widens the existing gender inequalities in the labour market.
Family-friendly policies are important for addressing these inequalities. Introduction of SPL was intended to help parents balance out child-related responsibilities and encourage females to return to work. Little is known about the effectiveness of this policy except for its low uptake, related to complexity and poor financial coverage.
The aim of this work is to rigorously evaluate whether the policy achieved its objectives, considering the overall effect and the possibility of various groups being differently affected. The results can inform future policy design and practice. It is of particular importance given the UK government’s Good Work Plan consultation and ambition to reform family-friendly policies in the UK. It is also of interest to employers who increasingly focus on developing policies to support employees’ work-life balance.
Outputs
IZA Working Paper: Fathers taking leave: evaluating the impact of Shared Parental Leave in the UK.
