Shared parental leave 'high' on ESS's priorities
BBCWork is under way to introduce shared parental leave in Guernsey, following a decade old States resolution.
In an update to States members on the work of her committee, Deputy Tina Bury said it was "high" on the Committee for Employment and Social Security's priorities for this term.
She said Guernsey's parental leave policies "lag behind the UK, Jersey, and most other jurisdictions, reflecting an outdated model that assumes childcare is primarily a woman's responsibility".
UK law allows shared parental leave, meaning eligible parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of statutory pay after the birth or adoption of a child.
While in Jersey up to 32 weeks per child can be shared between both parents.
In July 2015, Guernsey's States agreed provisions that granted employees legal rights to basic and extended maternity leave, maternity support leave, antenatal appointments and protection against dismissal during leave as part of new anti-discrimination laws
That law did not provide much allowance for shared parental leave, but it did allow a two-week maternity support leave entitlement for partners.
Bury said: "The shift from maternity leave to shared parental leave in most developed nations was driven by a desire to promote gender equality, support diverse family structures, and enable more flexible caregiving arrangements.
"It reflects a broader commitment to modernising workplace policies and empowering both parents to participate in early childcare.
"The committee believes there is strong public support to move to shared parental leave and hopes to make progress on this during this term."
Guernsey's Chief Minister Lindsay de Sausmarez said she supported the moves to investigate the introduction of shared parental leave.
During her update to States members, Bury also said her committee would look to "develop policy proposals for legislation to provide employees with the right to request flexible working".
Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].
