Budget 2016: Parental leave promises dubbed 'window dressing'

During the announcement of the Budget, George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, claimed the Government would renew its family policies and look into extending parent leave.

Osborne promised that the Conservative Party would launch a consultation in May 2016 specifically aimed at simplifying the current system, making it easier eligible employees to make use of the programmes.  

However, Graham Mitchell, Employment Partner at Clyde & Co, has since claimed that these promises are merely “window dressings”, and that the reality behind these plans is a lot more complicated.

“On the face of it,” he explains, “the policies the Chancellor has announced today look very family-friendly but the reality is that they are unlikely to make a significant and lasting impact for female participation in the workplace.