英国英格兰威尔士警察部门宣布将带薪陪产假从一周增加至两周[1]。这一政策调整源于去年媒体曝光警官因休假照顾孩子而遭到嘲笑和孤立的事件[1]。
根据内政部门的数据，在原有一周假期的政策下，仅有40%的警官会休第二周假期，而新政策实施后，该地区88%的警官将休完整的两周假期[1]。虽然英国法定陪产假为两周，但每周仅184.03英镑的补贴被认为是欧洲最低水平之一[1]。
这项改革已引发对整个公共部门父亲假期制度的更广泛关注[1]。英国武装部队的一项调查显示，近30%的军人家庭去年分居超过三个月[1]。保守党议员乔安娜·佩恩提议将军人陪产假增加至六周[1]，而一项调查表明，95%以上的现役父母认为现有陪产假不足[1]。英国政府目前正在进行一项为期18个月的亲假制度审查，预计将在12月报告相关结果[1]。
Police forces across England and Wales are doubling their paid paternity leave from one week to two weeks, matching the entitlement granted to mothers [1]. The policy shift follows media revelations last year that officers taking time off to care for their children faced ridicule and isolation in the workplace [1].
The expansion is expected to significantly increase uptake among officers, with data suggesting that under the previous arrangement only 40 percent of police fathers used their second week of leave, while 88 percent are projected to do so under the new policy [1]. The change has prompted wider scrutiny of parental leave provisions across the public sector, with campaigners now pushing for similar improvements for military personnel and other civil servants [1].
The adjustment comes as part of broader concerns about inadequate paternity support in Britain. The statutory entitlement currently stands at two weeks paid at 184.03 pounds per week, among the lowest in Europe [1]. A survey found that over 95 percent of current military parents believe existing paternity leave is insufficient [1], while a Ministry of Defence investigation revealed that nearly 30 percent of armed forces families experienced separation lasting more than three months in the past year [1]. Conservative MP Joanna Penn has proposed extending military paternity leave to six weeks [1]. The government's 18-month review of parental leave arrangements is expected to report in December [1].