While more than 1,000 employers have signed up to Guernsey’s new secondary pension scheme, Guernsey’s Employment and Social Security President has acknowledged that the island is still lagging behind when it comes to shared parental leave, flexible working and redundancy pay.

As part of a general update to the States this week, Deputy Tina Bury shed light on the progress of the secondary pension scheme, and applications to YIP.

There was also a focus on several areas where Guernsey falls behind our nearest jurisdictions – in shared parental leave, flexible working, and statutory redundancy pay.

She informed her colleagues that, as of 5 December, Your Island Pension, (YIP), had received applications from over 1,000 employers. 

“Employers from across all sectors of the economy have applied to YIP,” Deputy Bury said, continuing, “With building services, commercial services, wholesale, retail and hospitality accounting for over half of all applications. We’re delighted that more pension provision has been created in these sectors.”

The President of ESS said more information would become available in early 2026: “Employers are not obliged to use YIP for their workplace pension – some will be using other pension providers – this wider data will become available in early 2026 and the Committee will report on this in due course.”

ESS were previously directed by the States back in 2015 to explore the option of Shared Parental Leave, with a focus on building a better environment for raising a family locally. 

It was one of a range of matters brought up by the President, where Guernsey falls behind its closest jurisdictions. 

Deputy Bury said: “The Committee believes it’s critically important that the States takes action to ensure that Guernsey is a ‘family-friendly’ place to live; to create an environment where families can choose to build their lives.

“High on the Committee’s list of priorities is the development of policy proposals for the introduction of shared parental leave, as previously directed by the States in 2015.

“Guernsey’s statutory maternity and support leave entitlements lag far behind the UK, Jersey, and most other jurisdictions, reflecting an outdated model that assumes childcare is primarily a woman’s responsibility.

“The shift from maternity leave to shared parental leave in most developed nations was driven by a desire to promote gender equality, support diverse family structures, and enable more flexible caregiving arrangements. 

“It reflects a broader commitment to modernising workplace policies and empowering both parents to participate in early childcare. The Committee believes there is strong public support to move to shared parental leave and hopes to make progress on this during this term.”

Another area in which Guernsey’s legislation has lagged behind the UK and Jersey is in the development of the right to request flexible working. 

The UK has had similar legislation in place for over two decades, with Jersey introducing their version ten years ago. 

“The Committee would also like to develop policy proposals for legislation to provide employees with the right to request flexible working, as previously directed by the States in 2018. This right was introduced in the UK in 2002 and in Jersey a decade ago where it’s viewed as a strategic tool to foster resilient, inclusive and productive workplaces. 

“Of course, we’re aware that flexible working doesn’t work in all circumstances, and what I’m talking about here is a right to request, not a right to receive. However, flexible working can support people to stay in work. There are numerous circumstances where it can help, whether it be for those with young families, people with caring responsibilities, or for people with disabilities or health conditions.”

Deputy Bury also focussed on the introduction of statutory redundancy pay, and its status as a right. It’s another area which Guernsey’s has fallen behind on, and one ESS are keen to correct. 

The ESS President said: “We’re keen to consider whether to introduce a right to statutory redundancy pay. In both the UK and Jersey, employees are entitled to redundancy payments – dependent on length of service – but no such right exists in Guernsey, although people can claim unemployment benefit if they meet the relevant contribution conditions.”