Deloitte Pioneers 6-Month Paternity Leave to Boost Gender Equality

Deloitte, a leading member of the Big Four accounting firms, has announced a groundbreaking paternity leave policy set to commence in January 2025. This initiative grants all new fathers in the UK 26 weeks of fully-paid leave, matching the existing maternity leave benefits. The policy represents a significant increase from the current four-week paid paternity leave.

This progressive move is part of Deloitte's broader strategy to address gender imbalances in career progression and increase the number of female partners. Currently, the firm has approximately 410 women in its UK partnership, constituting about 30% of total partners.

A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Deloitte revealed crucial insights into the importance of parental leave:

• 90% of working parents consider family leave a major factor when choosing an employer
• Over 50% of working mothers believe their careers could advance if their partners had more parental leave
• More than 60% of working mothers reduced working hours due to their partner's workplace inflexibility
• Only 25% of working fathers had to decrease their hours for similar reasons

The research also highlighted the difficulty many working parents face in accessing information about parental leave policies when job hunting, impacting their career decisions.

Jackie Henry, a representative from Deloitte, emphasized the urgency for employers to adopt policies supporting all parents in balancing work and family responsibilities, promoting greater workplace gender equality.

In addition to the extended paternity leave, Deloitte is implementing other supportive measures:

• 12 weeks of extra paid leave for parents of children requiring neonatal care
• Five additional paid days off annually for long-term caregivers
• Paid leave for employees undergoing fertility treatment

These comprehensive changes reflect Deloitte's commitment to fostering a more inclusive and supportive work environment. As the first among the Big Four firms to introduce equal parental leave, Deloitte is setting a new standard in the professional services industry.

The policy aims to address the impact of unequal parental leave on working mothers' career progression, a challenge that has long affected gender diversity in high-level positions across various sectors. By equalizing parental leave, Deloitte hopes to create more opportunities for women to advance in their careers while allowing fathers to take a more active role in childcare.

This initiative aligns with Deloitte's history of implementing progressive workplace policies and its ongoing efforts to improve gender diversity in leadership roles. As the largest professional services network globally, Deloitte's actions may inspire similar changes across the industry and beyond.