The top 10 questions to ask for great parental leave feedback

Creating a great parental leave policy isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes or copying what other companies do. It’s about understanding how your current policy feels to the people who use it — and using real feedback to improve.

Too often, organisations assume what people want: longer leave, bigger payouts, flashier benefits. But the reality is often more nuanced.

Sometimes what employees need most is:

• A clear, easy-to-navigate process

• Flexibility when returning

• A manager who checks in at the right moments

The only way to know? Ask.

That’s why we created the Parental Leave Feedback Guide, a free, practical resource with five proven tools to help you gather meaningful feedback and build a better parental leave experience.

Whether you're just starting out or already have a policy in place, these 10 questions will give you powerful insights.

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These questions are pulled directly from our downloadable guide — and they’re designed to work across surveys, interviews, and working groups.

1. How satisfied are you with our current parental leave support?

Straight to the point — and perfect for pulse surveys or engagement check-ins.

2. What’s the one thing you’d change about our parental leave support?

Cuts through vague feedback and surfaces your highest-leverage improvement.

3. How aware are you of your parental leave entitlements (statutory and employer)?

Confusion = stress. This question tells you if your communication is working.

4. How supported did you feel during your parental leave?

Pair this with a 5-point scale to spot patterns over time.

5. What moments or touch points really mattered during your leave?

Reveals what’s most meaningful — often small things with big emotional weight.

6. On a scale of 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult), how would you rate your return to work experience and why?

This transition phase is often where policy falls short. Ask about it directly.

7. Did you use flexible work arrangements after returning? If yes, how effective were they?

A great way to test whether flexibility is offered and actually working.

8. How supportive was your manager during your leave and return?

Policies set the baseline. Managers shape the experience.

9. What would help you balance work and family in the next 6–12 months?

Future-focused and practical. Helps inform benefits, comms, and support planning.

10. Would you recommend [your company] as a family-friendly employer?

This tells you whether your intentions are translating into impact.

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Want the full guide with ready-to-use templates?

We've bundled all the best questions, plus survey templates, manager interview guides, and instructions for setting up a feedback group, into one free, easy-to-use PDF.

Use it to:

• Run a quick pulse check on your current policy

• Facilitate meaningful 1:1 conversations

• Launch a working group to co-create improvements

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Now for the important legal part: The information we provide is general and not regulated financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. Please seek independent legal, financial, tax or other advice in considering whether the content in this article is appropriate for your goals, situation or needs. The information in this article is current as at 4 April 2025.

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Stephanie Pow

Founder & CEO of Crayon

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