Job losses could turn the clock back on years of progress for working mums

Commenting on the latest figures on employment rates for women and mothers over the last 15 years published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Brendan Barber said: “The rising proportion of mothers in work over the last 15 years is a ringing endorsement of family-friendly working practices such as better parental leave and pay, and the right to request flexible working.
“The expansion of quality, affordable childcare through Sure Start centres, now under threat due to local government cuts, has also helped parents find work.
“It is deeply worrying that the government is about to turn the clock back by abandoning plans to extend family-friendly working, cutting childcare tax credits and forcing hundreds of thousands of women out of work through mass public sector job cuts.”

Extending right to request flexible working is ‘good news for employers’

Commenting on new Government legislation which comes into force today (Monday), including extending the right to request flexible working and increasing paid holiday entitlement, Midlands TUC Regional Secretary Roger McKenzie said:

“This is extremely welcome news. Extending the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to the age of 16 can only be good news for employers.

“Companies whose workers enjoy the benefits of flexible working are likely to feel less stressed and less anxious about balancing their lives at home and work, which means they are more committed and productive while at work.

“I hope all employers who receive flexibility requests consider them seriously and do all they can to make flexible working a reality.

“The TUC is also pleased to see the increase in the minimum legal entitlement to paid holiday from 4.8 to 5.6 weeks per year. This is an increase of 24 to 28 days for a full-time worker on a five day week, with pro-rata increases for part-timers.

“We estimate that this will benefit two million employees, many of whom will be low-paid women, working part-time here in the midlands.

“At the other end of the scale, this extra holiday entitlement will help to address our long hours working culture, which is stopping many people from enjoying a proper work/life balance.”