In the previous year, just 2 percent of eligible couples took advantage of shared parental leave (SPL), indicating that the utilization of SPL remains remarkably limited, as indicated by research conducted by the law firm EMW, which was based on data from HMRC.

The utilization of SPL did experience a 23 percent increase last year, but the numbers revealed that only 13,100 couples applied for the program. The research also highlighted that nearly 650,000 women claimed maternity pay in the same period, illustrating that only a small fraction of eligible couples opted for SPL. EMW characterized the adoption of the scheme as “exceptionally low,” especially considering that it has been available for five years. The research suggested that the relatively low level of pay associated with SPL might be discouraging couples from utilizing the program.