Poll Results: Views on parental leave in areas with marginal seats
Published: 25 Mar 2024
By Working Families on behalf of the Families and Work Group, Sponsored by Network for Social Change
Key Findings
1,285 parents of dependents aged 0–18-year-olds in England and Wales in marginal constituencies were surveyed.
- 73% surveyed agreed that they think the next government should introduce reforms which improve parents’ leave and/or pay entitlements
- 52% of those surveyed proposed that new fathers and partners should be entitled to 12 weeks of government funded leave in in their child’s first year.
- 92% agreed that it is important for new fathers and partners to take time off to care for their baby in their first year
- 67% said they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate or party that promised better leave and entitlements.
Methodology
Poll carried out 21st February – 26th February 2024
The survey was conducted via online interview. Differential response rates from different demographic groups were taken into account.
Online interviews of parents of dependent 0-18 year olds aged 18+ in marginal constituencies in England and Wales.
Sample Size: 1,285
This polling was designed to understand the views of parents living in marginal constituencies in England and Wales. The results indicate that political parties that opt to introduce better leave and entitlements could well encourage voters to vote for them, with 67% of respondents feeling more inclined to vote for candidates or parties that include this in their manifesto.
There is a resounding call for better pay and parental leave amongst the respondents; 73% of those polled said the next government should introduce reforms which improve parents’ leave and/or pay entitlements, and 84% of respondents said that the government should do more to support new families to balance work and childcare over a baby’s first year.
Better paternity leave and pay is also a clear priority amongst parents polled. There is a nearly universal belief amongst our respondents (92%) that it is important for new fathers and partners to take time off to care for their baby in their first year. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of respondents said the current offering of two weeks of statutory paternity leave is not long enough.
Additionally, two-thirds (65%) of those polled said that statutory maternity/paternity pay of £172.48 per week is not an adequate amount. This concern about the low rate of statutory pay also explains why the majority (55%) of those polled felt that if paternity leave were to be reformed, increasing pay should be the priority, compared to 36% of respondents who would prioritise a longer period of paternity leave. The overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) said that self-employed fathers should be entitled to statutory paternity leave and pay (currently they have no entitlement).
This need for better leave and pay was echoed as a priority for maternity leave; 42% of parents we polled wanted to see more paid weeks of parental leave for new mothers and birth parents and 41% wanted to see the statutory rate of maternity pay increased.
Finally, while the majority of those polled want to see action from the government, there is an expectation that employers should step up and offer more support to new parents. 80% of those polled said employers should do more to enhance parental leave and pay for new parents.
Kyle Green, Stakeholder and Engagement Manager, at Working Families said:
Our polling, focusing on parents in marginal seats in England and Wales, shows that parental leave reform is a priority for many and is likely to influence their vote for in the next general election. With three quarters (73%) of parents calling for the government to introduce reforms to maternity and paternity leave and pay, any future government must take heed of the call to do more to support parents in a baby’s first year, particularly enabling fathers and partners to take longer, better paid periods of leave, beyond the two weeks of statutory paternity leave currently offered.
With 67% of parents saying they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate or party that promised better leave and entitlements, the message is clear: parents want a more supportive system, one that offers longer periods of leave for fathers and partners and an increase in the rate of statutory pay for new parents.