The Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination at Work. 

Members of the Working Parents Group - a coalition of trade unions and charities - set out some concerns in advance of the Government's consultation on extending the right to request flexible working

Working Families' analysis of the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on parents in work

Working Families has joined a coalition to campaign for fairness at work and improved employment rights for those in low paid and precarious jobs.

The key points of  helpline report for 2009

Working Families New Campaign for Fathers

The plans announced on 20 May in the new coalition government programme to extend the right to request flexible working rights to all employees, changes to parental leave and family policy and welfare and benefit proposals are summarised and commented on here.

Working Families celebrates flexible working for all

New coalition government to extend the right to request to all employees.

The coalition government has promised, in the five year plan announced today, to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, consulting with business on how best to do so.

Read the report on the Working Families Helpline

Working Families reponse to the consultation document "21st Century Welfare" sets out our views on benefit simplification draws attention to the impact of childcare costs on work incentives, and calls for more family-shaped jobs.

Working Families response to the consultation on Disability Living Allowance Reform

Working Families response to the Ministry of Justice consultation urges a rethink on reducing legal aid in employment and welfare benefit cases.

Working Families response to the Green Paper makes suggestions on improving services to help keep parents of disabled children in work and out of poverty.

Working Families supports the intention to encourage early resolution of disputes in the workplace, but argues increased tribunal fees may reduce access to justice and that the qualifying criteria for unfair dismissal should not be changed.
 

The response highlights the importance of time as well as income poverty in families, draws attention to the problem of in-work poverty and supports Graham Allen's suggestions for further investment in parental leave arrangements.

Working Families response sets out the following priorities for families in employment:  supporting fathers; supporting parents of disabled chidren; changing workplace cultures, extending parental leave and improving childcare.

For a full copy of our response click on the title.

Working Families warmly welcomes the proposed extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees, but raises concerns about a move to a Code of Practice and calls for access to flexible jobs to be improved.  We welcome the principles behind flexible parental leave but would prefer independent leave rights for fathers and mothers, call for adequate pay levels, and suggest that a name change to "first year leave" or "new child leave" would avoid confusion with the current parental leave available.