The Push for Parental Leave

Written By Chloe Mouser

Why 2nd May Is a Defining Moment for UK Families

There are moments when something shifts.

Not quietly.
Not gradually.
But visibly.

2nd May is one of those moments.

Because this isn’t just a rally.

It’s prams on the streets. Parents showing up. And a system being challenged - out loud.

What Is Happening on 2nd May?

As part of Equal Parenting Week, families across the UK are coming together for Push for Paternity Leave.

📍 In London, parents (especially dads) will walk with prams from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square - ending with speeches calling for change.

This isn’t a protest in the traditional sense.

It’s:

  • Peaceful

  • Family-friendly

  • Visible

  • Impossible to ignore

And it’s not just London.

👉 Parallel walks are happening in Leeds, Manchester and Nottingham

Who Is It For? (Everyone)

Yes, there’s a strong focus on dads and non-birthing parents.

But this is for:

  • Mums

  • Dads

  • Co-parents

  • Carers

  • Grandparents

  • Allies

Because this isn’t just about paternity leave.

👉 It’s about shared care from day one

What Are They Asking For?

At the centre of this movement is a clear, tangible ask:

👉 Increase paternity leave to 6 weeks, paid at 90% of salary

Right now in the UK:

  • Paternity leave = 2 weeks

  • Paid at a low statutory rate

Which means many dads:

  • Can’t afford to take it

  • Miss early bonding time

  • Default into the “provider” role

Why This Matters (The Reality Behind the Movement)

The stats are hard to ignore:

  • 💡 Mothers do 60% more unpaid childcare

  • 💡 Women lose an average of £65,000 within 5 years of their first child

  • 💡 88% of the gender pay gap is driven by the motherhood penalty

  • 💡 1 in 5 dads take no paternity leave at all

  • 💡 21% of dads are questioned or challenged when requesting flexible working

This isn’t about personal choice.

👉 It’s about a system that still assumes:
care = women’s role, work = men’s role

The Bigger Issue: The System Isn’t Built for Modern Life

Families today don’t look like they did decades ago.

  • Dual-income households are the norm

  • Costs of living are higher

  • Expectations of parenting have evolved

But policy?

👉 It hasn’t kept up.

The UK still has one of the least supportive parental leave systems in Europe

And that has real consequences:

  • Women stepping back from careers

  • Men missing early parenting experiences

  • Families under pressure

  • Workplaces losing talent

Why Now Matters (This Is the Window)

The UK Government is currently reviewing parental leave policies - with outcomes expected by 2027.

That makes this moment critical.

👉 This could be the last real opportunity in a generation to influence statutory change.

And movements like this?

They matter.

Because policy doesn’t change in silence.

It changes when people show up.

Who Is Behind It?

This isn’t a single organisation.

It’s a coalition of voices pushing in the same direction:

  • Equal Parenting Week

  • Parenting Out Loud

  • Growth Spurt

Supported by organisations like:

  • The Fatherhood Institute

  • The Fawcett Society

  • The Dad Shift

  • WorkLife Central

Together, they’re pushing for something simple - but powerful:

👉 A culture where caregiving is shared, visible, and supported

A Moco Coaching Perspective

At Moco Coaching, we talk a lot about:

  • Sustainable performance

  • Energy, not just output

  • Environments that support real life

And this sits right at the heart of it.

Because you cannot expect people to:

  • Perform at their best

  • Lead effectively

  • Stay engaged

…if the system around them doesn’t support one of life’s biggest transitions.

This isn’t about doing more.

👉 It’s about building systems that actually work

What This Rally Really Represents

This isn’t just about paternity leave.

It’s about:

  • Challenging outdated roles

  • Reducing inequality

  • Supporting families properly

  • Creating workplaces that reflect real life

It’s about shifting from:
❌ “This is just how it is”

To:
✅ “This needs to change”

On 2nd May, it’s not just parents walking through London.

It’s a message:

👉 That care matters
👉 That equality matters
👉 That the system needs to catch up

Because no one should have to choose between:

  • Being present at home

  • And progressing at work

And right now?

We have a chance to change that.

If nothing changes, what does this system look like in 10 years?

And if it does change… what becomes possible?

Chloe Mouser
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