When I started Mumsnet, I wanted to build a business that recognised what many parents know instinctively: that family comes first and work second. I’d left a previous role in finance because it wasn’t compatible with raising children – the only women I saw succeed were either child-free or pretending to be. One even took client calls while in labour.
Things have improved, not least because the pandemic forced a more flexible way of working. But millions of conversations on Mumsnet tell us that the system still doesn’t work for families – or, often, for employers.
That’s why I’m pleased the Government has finally launched its long-promised review of parental leave and pay. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said he wants to ‘reset the system’. At Mumsnet, we’ve long campaigned for a simple, cost-free step that the Government could take right now: requiring employers to publish their policies on parental leave.
At present, there is no legal requirement to be upfront about maternity, paternity or adoptive leave. So, if you’re applying for a job and thinking about starting a family, you face a dilemma. Ask about leave, and risk being discriminated against (more than 70% of employers and recruiters told us that women are penalised for pregnancy). Say nothing and you could end up with a policy that’s worse than your current one.
It’s staggering that so many companies still fail to publish this information, even while boasting about perks like free fruit or dog-friendly offices. Some will tell you how much time you can take off when you get a new puppy – but not when you have a baby.
It’s also counterproductive. Publishing leave policies isn’t just good for parents, it helps companies attract and retain talent: 84% of Mumsnet users say these policies matter when applying for a job and, when they’re not visible, people assume the worst. As one user put it, ‘I’d always assume that a company hesitant to share this offered the bare minimum.’
Some employers worry about extra red tape, but that argument doesn’t stack up. The majority already have a careers page. All we’re asking is that they include this one crucial detail. And the Government’s own analysis of gender pay gap reporting found most organisations find compliance straightforward.
When we started campaigning for companies to publish their parental leave policies, fewer than a quarter of those in the FTSE100 published theirs. Now, it’s more than half. That’s progress – but it’s still way too slow.
Mandating publication would be a small, zero-cost change with a big impact. It would help level the playing field for women, reduce discrimination and support a fairer labour market. And it would allow people to make informed decisions about their futures.
If ministers are serious about resetting the system, they could start by asking employers to be as transparent about babies as they are about beanbags.
Justine Roberts CBE is the founder and chief executive of Mumsnet.