Parenting leave policies are a key tool for promoting gender equality, supporting families and reducing social inequalities across Europe. Yet their impact is not uniform. This policy brief shows that outcomes depend not only on formal entitlements, but on how policies are designed, accessed and used in practice.
Drawing on recent research, the policy brief highlights how inequalities emerge across gender, income, employment status and family contexts. It also identifies important gaps in current evidence, particularly regarding long-term outcomes and underrepresented groups.
By combining a clear overview of existing knowledge with forward-looking recommendations, the brief offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers and anyone interested in more inclusive family policies. It provides a concise entry point into current debates and a strong case for why further attention and action are needed.
The policy brief is based on earlier Sustainability@Leave publication Lammi-Taskula, J. and Reimer, T. (eds) (2026), Mapping the Unknown: Research Gaps in Parenting Leave Inequality Research in Europe, COST Action Parental Leave Policies and Social Sustainability (Sustainability@Leave), DOI: https://doi.org/10.31235/osf.io/8kbsz_v1