Bright Horizons launches major new Parental Leave Benchmark study
New research finds 85% of employers now offer at least 12 weeks’ full maternity pay, but just half of parents find returning to work easy
The parental leave landscape is changing, with enhanced leave policies increasingly becoming the norm. However, new research from leading Work and Family Solutions provider, Bright Horizons, reveals that what employers offer on paper is only part of the story.
The Parental Leave Benchmark 2026, based on direct feedback from 250 employers and 620 nursery parents, looks at what parental leave is like in practice – from how easy it is to access and how well managers support employees, to what happens when parents return to work. Employers can also use a Benchmarking League Table to compare their approach with similar organisations by sector and size - allowing them to see the full picture of parental leave.
The research reveals a growing gap between the policies employees are offered and the experience they actually have, with Bright Horizons calling on employers to look beyond the headline benefits of their parental leave packages and consider the full journey, from preparing to leave, right through to returning to work.
The findings show that having a strong policy does not always mean parents have a positive experience, and highlights five key areas employers need to consider:
- Policy is no longer the differentiator
85% of employers now offer at least 12 weeks’ full maternity pay, suggesting enhanced parental leave is becoming increasingly standard. As more organisations strengthen their policies, the focus is shifting from what employers offer on paper to how parental leave is experienced in practice.
The Benchmark report considers not only what an organisation provides, but whether employees can access it, how the support is delivered and whether it achieves the outcomes employers are seeking.;
- The return-to-work experience remains the breaking point
Only 50% of parents say they find returning to work easy. While 66% felt supported during their leave, returning to work can be much harder. Parents highlighted balancing work and family responsibilities, feeling out of touch after time away and a lack of clear planning for their return. For employers, getting this part right can make a real difference to whether parents stay, progress and feel confident at work. It can also have wider implications for retention and employee engagement.
- The manager gap is shaping parent experience
Managers have a big role to play in making parental leave work well, but the research shows a clear gap between employer confidence and parents’ experiences. 52% of employers believe their managers are confident supporting employees through parental leave, yet only 27% of parents say their manager was well informed. And just 25% of organisations provide manager guidance or training on supporting parental leave.
- Almost half of organisations aren't measuring outcomes
49% of organisations do not track any parental leave outcomes. That means many employers don't know whether their approach is helping to improve return rates, retention, progression or employee experience. For Bright Horizons, measuring these outcomes is a vital part of moving parental leave from a policy or benefit to a wider workforce strategy.
- Childcare is the missing link
79% of nursery parents say their nursery settling-in experience made returning to work easier, showing how much practical childcare support can help parents make the transition back to work. However, relatively few employers provide this support. Just 12% offer employer-supported ad hoc childcare, while only 4% offer employer-supported regular childcare.
For Bright Horizons, the findings reinforce the need to think about what happens before, during and after parental leave, rather than treating leave as a standalone policy.
Chris Locke, Executive Director Work+Family at Bright Horizons said: “Our Parental Leave Benchmark research comes at a time when changes to legislation, a greater spotlight on parental leave and the continued financial pressure on parents make this a critical read for organisations. For many parents, the challenges don’t end when they return to work. The cost of childcare and its impact on financial wellbeing, as well as the wider wellbeing of parents, is becoming a common topic for discussion.
This year, we wanted to go beyond the policy itself to understand the entire system of parental leave support, including how parents themselves have experienced it. The Parental Leave Benchmark 2026 brings all of this together to give employers a clearer picture of what’s working, where the gaps are and how they can better support parents throughout the journey.”
The Parental Leave Benchmark 2026, which allows organisations to compare their provision with peers, see sector-specific data and understand where their approach sits against the market, is available to download here.
