What Working Families wants from a new Government

6^th April 2010

What Working Families wants from a new Government

As the election is called, Working Families sets out its manifesto demands

Working Families has been campaigning for all parties to adopt their manifesto demands for the new government.   They call on the new government to:

extend the Right to Request to make workplaces more flexible

provide more choice for families to share the care of children or older relatives

make childcare and tax and benefits systems simpler

 Sarah Jackson, Chief Executive of Working Families, said:

”Many of our demands are cost neutral or could even save money.  Extending the Right to Request flexible working to all employees is a simple step forward that could have a profound impact on the UK’s working culture.   For the sake of the UK’s economy we need to use the talents of all our employees.  Workplace flexibility, as President Obama noted last week, affects the strength of the economy, the success of businesses and the wellbeing of families.

”More family-shaped jobs means more parents in work, and a chance for the next government to make progress in closing the gender pay gap and addressing child poverty.

“The next five years need to see a great leap forward for fathers.  Today’s leave arrangements for parents mean loaded choices for families, and too often result in poor outcomes for women in terms of discrimination and sidelining at work.  Men are missing out on valuable family time. Government leadership, as well as improved rights for fathers, is needed.

”And we need a real commitment to make life easier for parents struggling with childcare, particularly in holiday times. Today’s climate is uncertain for parents and they need a simple and responsive tax and benefits system that reflects frequent changes in their hours of work and childcare arrangements.”

Working Families’ manifesto demands are:

 All workers to have a Right to Request flexible working

All jobs to be offered on a flexible or part time basis, unless there are sound business reasons why not

All fathers/partners to be entitled to paternity leave, regardless of length of service

A paid and independent right to extended leave for fathers/partners

Statutory maternity and paternity pay to be at minimum wage levels

All parents including self employed and adopting parents to have paid maternity/paternity leave

Parental leave to be available on a more flexible basis

Parental leave to be paid

Carers to have an equivalent to parental leave

Flexible and affordable childcare to reflect flexible work patterns

Tax credits contribution to childcare costs to be paid at 100% (not 80%)

 Ends

 Notes to editors

Working Families is the UK’s leading work-life balance organisation.  The charity supports and gives a voice to working parents and carers, whilst also helping employers create workplaces which encourage work-life balance for everyone   Working Families runs Top Employers for Working Families and Britain’s Best Boss.   Legal helpline for low income families - 0800 013 0313.

www.workingfamilies.org.uk 

For more information contact:

Press Office on 020 7253 7243 or email press@workingfamilies.org.uk

Out of hours press mobile: 07870 177096 (for urgent national enquiries up to 7pm)

The full manifesto is available in the campaigns and policy zone of the Working Families website.

A list of supporters of the manifesto is available on the Working Families website.

 In a White House press release on 31.3.10. President Obama recognised the need for workplace flexibility when he said: “Workplace flexibility isn’t just a women’s issue.  It’s an issue that affects the well-being of our families and the success of our businesses. It affects the strength of our economy – whether we’ll create the workplaces and jobs of the future that we need to compete in today’s global economy." 

 “Flexible policies actually make employees more – not less – productive,” said Mrs. Obama. “Instead of spending time worrying about what’s happening at home, employees have the support and the peace of mind they need to concentrate at work which is good for their families – and the bottom line.”