Good parental leave policy, poor parental leave experience

What if you’ve only been seeing half the picture?

Parental leave is often judged by policy alone: what it offers, how much it pays, and how it compares on paper. But policy is only part of the picture.

The Parental Leave Benchmark 2026 explores what happens before, during and after leave, combining employer data and parent experiences to uncover the experiences, systems and practices that truly shape parental leave outcomes.

Inside the report

• Where parental leave policies break down in practice
• What parents need before, during and after leave
• How leading employers are evolving their approach
• The biggest opportunities to improve parent experience
• Benchmark insights from employers across the UK
• Practical actions to strengthen your strategy in 2027
• Access to the Interactive Parental Leave Calculator

Get Bright Horizon’s Parental Leave Benchmark Report 2026

See the full picture of parental leave.

Simply complete the form below to get your free copy now!