Making the announcement the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "Women deserve the right to pursue their goals and not feel they have to choose between having a successful career or having a baby. They should be supported by their employers, rather than being made to feel less employable or under pressure to take unchallenging jobs. It is already illegal to sack a woman because she is pregnant or on maternity leave, but we want to go further than that. We want to create a fairer society that gives parents the flexibility to choose how they share care for their child in the first year after birth.
Continuing Mr Clegg said: "We need to challenge the old-fashioned assumption that women will always be the parent that stays at home - many fathers want that option too. That is why from April 2015 we're introducing shared parental leave to allow couples to make that decision jointly ensuring all career options remain open to women after pregnancy. There shouldn't be a one size fits all approach - that's not how families are set up. Many businesses already recognise how productive and motivated employees are when they're given the opportunity to work flexibly, helping them retain talent and boost their competitive edge. This is good for families, good for business and good for our economy."
However Labour's Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities, Gloria De Piero, responded to Nick Clegg by saying it was merely a re-announcement on parental leave, saying: "Nick Clegg claims to be on parents' side but he and David Cameron have done nothing to support families in the last three years. Instead this out-of-touch Government has cut childcare support and places and there are now 578 fewer sure start centres than in 2010. This reheated announcement contains nothing new for families suffering from this Government's cost of living crisis. It proves you can't trust a word Nick Clegg says."
But the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) welcomed the announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister Commenting, John Wastnage, Employment Adviser said: "We have always been in favour of the idea of shared parental leave because employers want talented female members of staff to return to work after having a child. However, we have previously had concerns when the government's proposals were starting to look overly complex. Employers cannot afford to spend days getting to grips with complicated new rules only to find that employees don't use them because they don't understand them.
Concluding Mr Wastnage said: "We are pleased that the government has listened to business and this response appears to offer pragmatic solutions, such as restricting the number of requests or changes to leave to a maximum of three, as this will limit potential disruption for smaller firms. The requirements for parents to provide indicative plans for how they intend to use their leave will encourage early dialogue between employers and staff without reducing parents' flexibility."
Concluding Mr Wastnage said: "We are pleased that the government has listened to business and this response appears to offer pragmatic solutions, such as restricting the number of requests or changes to leave to a maximum of three, as this will limit potential disruption for smaller firms. The requirements for parents to provide indicative plans for how they intend to use their leave will encourage early dialogue between employers and staff without reducing parents' flexibility."
The Institute of Directors (IoD) did not welcome Mr Clegg's proposals, referring to them as a nightmare for small business, Commenting on the announcement, Alexander Ehmann, Deputy Director of Policy at the IoD said: “The IoD understands the case for a system of shared parental leave and how it could help to widen the talent pool available to employers. Unfortunately, today’s announcements heap yet more burdens on struggling employers at a time when Government should be freeing them to create jobs and wealth. The proposed system is considerably more complex and unwieldy than the current laws and employers will – once again – have to absorb the cost of adapting and implementing this new system. Today’s proposals introduce requirements on employers to honour up to three different requests for leave in independent blocks as well as shortening the notice given to employers about a change to a mother’s return date.” He added: “Moving the goalposts time and again provides an environment of gross uncertainty that small businesses up and down the country will fear.”
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance did welcome Nick Clegg's announcement, saying: "The Alliance welcomes the Deputy Prime Minister’s announcement on plans to introduce shared parental leave. As an organisation that has always promoted the importance of the involvement of fathers in their child’s development, Alliance members are pleased that this is now being reflected in government policy. All too often the term ‘parent’ is associated with the role of the mother so it is heartening to see that we are moving away from this outdated way of thinking and that the significant role that fathers play in the crucial early years of their child’s life is being fully recognised and valued."
