Since 2010, women have had the option to transfer their maternity leave to the father from 26 weeks onwards and then return to work. The Coalition Government decided to take this idea further and announced that, from 2015, couples would be able to share leave from 18 weeks. This would allow couples (including same-sex couples and those who adopt) flexibility over care from an earlier stage in a baby's life. Mothers would still be able to take the full 52 weeks if they wanted to but equally parents might decide that the father should take some of the leave.
In line with this change, after 18 weeks the leave would be designated 'parental leave' that either parent might take, rather than 'maternity leave' that the mother must bestow upon the father. This emphasises that both parents are equally entitled to care for their child.
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