Did you know that the Government are thinking of reducing maternity leave to 18 weeks?  We believe that six months matters for Mums to recover from birth and prepare to return to work.

Here's a very brief summary about today's model of leave and pay, the Government's planned changes and why Working Families is concerned.

We asked some Working Families Employer members about the proposed reduction of maternity leave to 18 weeks.  Most were concerned about retention rates and costs to employers and favoured a default 26 weeks of maternity leave.

Some good news on child benefit, but disappointment on working tax credits and little in the budget for families on the lowest incomes.

What is the future for maternity leave if the Government's flexible leave plans are introduced?  Some ideas:

Working Families and others have written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor asking them to meet with parents affected by the rule change to Working Tax Credit before making the change.  Letter here: www.workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/new-thinking/policy/5-letter-to-the-pm-and-chancellor-to-delay-tax-credit-rule-change

Press release about our concerns here: www.workingfamilies.org.uk/about-us/press-room/working-families-concern-over-changes-to-working-tax-credit

Open letter to the PM here: www.workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/new-thinking/policy/open-letter-to-the-prime-minister-on-tax-credit-changes

Working Families and others have written to the Prime Minister urging him to reconsider the freeze and clawback proposals for child benefit.   The text of the letter is here:http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/articles/new-thinking/policy/3-save-child-benefit  Join the campaign to Save Child Benefit here:  http://www.savechildbenefit.org.uk

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.

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.
 

Working Families argues that introducing fees in Employment Tribunals - as the Government proposes -  will reduce access to justice for many of the callers to our free helpline.

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.

Working Families is supporting End Child Poverty's Campaign for more Jobs You Can Raise A Family On.  Find out here how you can join the campaign.

Working Families and others have written to the Prime Minister and Chancellor asking them to meet with parents affected by the rule change to Working Tax Credit before making the change

Working Families and others have written to the Prime Minister asking him to delay tax credit changes which will cause 18 months of hardship for many families in work

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.

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.

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.