Deloitte to pay shared parental leave in line with maternity

Shared parental leave regulations will come into effect on December 1, allowing parents to flexibly split up to 52 weeks of leave for children born or adopted after April 5 2015.

While 38 per cent of companies offer enhanced maternity pay, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has said there is no requirement for these firms to pay more than statutory for shared parental leave.

This week, lawyers warned there may be future discrimination claims against businesses that choose not to offer enhanced pay in line with maternity packages.

Deloitte currently offers enhanced maternity and adoption packages at 16 weeks full pay, followed by 10 weeks half pay.

The Big Four firm said it will extend this to shared parental leave “as a mark of its commitment to supporting working families and ensuring equality of benefits between parents”.

Emma Codd, managing partner for talent at Deloitte, said: “Supporting parents that work at Deloitte is a firm-wide priority.

“We’re encouraged by the changes that the Government is introducing, which have the potential for a hugely positive impact, but meeting that potential requires wide-spread adoption.”

This year, the Government introduced the legal right to request flexible working and extra free childcare as part of its commitment to back working families.