Plans to include grandparents in shared parental leave will benefit the UK economy, according to Rethink Group.

The specialist recruitment and talent management consultancy has outlined how permitting grandparents to take parental leave will provide highly skilled professionals with greater support in returning to their job roles rather than feeling they have no option but to resign to juggle childcare. In addition, it should also encourage grandparents to remain in employment rather than quitting to assist with childcare. The Chancellor, George Osborne recently highlighted that more than half of mothers rely on grandparents for childcare when they return to work.

Rebecca Trowell HR Director of Rethink Group comments:

“The plans are very encouraging and another step forward to achieving greater support for our parents returning to work which is welcomed in UK industry. Shared parental leave has already had a positive impact since its introduction in April and we’ve seen benefits both internally and with our clients. In the longer term the move could also help us to tackle skills shortages. There are skilled and experienced professionals who choose to retire early to help raise their grandchildren and allowing them to take parental leave could mean many remain in, or even return to work.”

“We have to look to utilise all areas of the workforce, particularly at a time when so much stress is being placed on our available resources. It’s well known that a number of key industries are suffering from skills shortages so it’s imperative that we make the most of all available skills. Almost two million grandparents have given up a job, reduced their hours or taken time off to care for grandchildren and those individuals could make a real difference to UK productivity.”