'Competition is fierce' | Longer paternity leave is the latest recruiting tool in the war for talent

Major accounting firm Grant Thornton UK has announced it is tripling its paternity leave allowance in a bid to remain competitive in the war for talent.

The Big Four firm revealed a series of ‘market-leading' updates to its family leave policies, with the aim of giving more flexibility to employees with caring responsibilities as they adjust to welcoming new family members.

Amongst the changes being rolled out, Grant Thornton will increase the enhanced paternity pay it offers from two weeks to six weeks full pay (including statutory pay), marking the firm out as a leader amongst its peers in supporting a more balanced approach to childcare.

Other key updates, which will apply to people who are due to have children, including through adoption, from  January 1, 2023, include a reduction in length of service criteria for paternity, shared parental or maternity and adoption leave and increased enhanced pay for maternity and adoption leave. These are in addition to other support Grant Thornton offers its people, such as neonatal leave and unpaid family leave.