Under the new plans announced by George Osborne, the shared parental leave system is to be extended to cover grandparents as well as the child’s mother and father.
While the current 50-week time period will not be extended, parents will be able to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of parental leave pay with a nominated working grandparent.
According to reports, Osborne hopes that this amendment will allow working parents to return to the workplace more quickly after welcoming their child. He also expects lone parents, in particular, to benefit, as they have previously not been able to avail of the shared parental leave option.
Announcing the plans, Osborne said: “In many families, grandparents play a central role in caring for their grandchildren and helping to keep down the costs of childcare. Increasing numbers of grandparents, however, also want to remain in work themselves…Allowing them instead to share leave with their children will keep thousands more in the workplace, which is good for our economy.”
