Summary
A review in Jersey found that the parental leave system does not equally benefit all families, particularly single-parent families. The system currently grants parental leave based on individual parents rather than families, causing disadvantages for single parents. The review recommended changes to the system to better support all families.
Key Facts
- Jersey's parental leave system grants leave individually to parents, not to families as a whole.
- The review found that single-parent families receive less total leave time compared to two-parent families.
- Single-parent families and low to middle-income families face difficulties in taking full parental leave.
- The report suggests extending leave benefits to grandparents or other family caregivers.
- Financial challenges, like high childcare costs, make it hard for families in Jersey to afford more children.
- Some families struggle to meet basic needs like food and housing due to high living costs in Jersey.
- Smaller businesses in Jersey face difficulties managing parental leave due to their limited number of employees.
