Deloitte UK is equalising parental leave, becoming the first of the Big Four accounting firms to offer identical paternity and maternity pay. The firm’s new policy will provide 26 weeks of fully-paid family leave to all new parents from 1 January 2025. Previously, paternity leave was set at four weeks on full pay. This change in policy was announced in response to research by YouGov showing the significance of family leave in employee’s decisions when choosing or staying with an employer. Additionally, the research highlighted the impact that unequal parental leave and rigid work setups can have on the career progression of working mothers.

Deloitte’s new policies also include up to 12 weeks of additional paid leave for parents with children who require neonatal care. Further, the company is enhancing support for caregivers by authorizing five days of paid leave annually and providing paid time off for fertility treatment. The firm believes that these initiatives underscore the pressing need for employers to develop policies that support all parents in balancing work and family responsibilities. This will foster greater equality in the workplace and encourage families to share responsibilities from early parenthood.

Interestingly, the research revealed that it was challenging for 50% of working parents to find information about parental leave when job searching. As such, firms must make efforts to improve this situation. For example, they could make the information easier to access on their individual websites or over phone calls with their customer service. Websites like eddcaller.com are providing services making it convenient to contact organizations such as California’s Employment Development Department for queries like how to get a hold of Paid Family Leave, how to contact SDI, or how to reach a live person for unemployment services. As numerous companies are moving towards equalizing parental leave, it’s essential for workers to get accurate information about these benefits.