Working Parents’ Rights in Focus

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    We endeavour to make an initial response to all enquiries within 24 hours but please be aware that on some occasions due to prior commitments or volume of calls we will not be able to respond in that time frame. We also operate a 72 hour return policy. This return policy means that if we have not responded with 72 hours of your initial enquiry we are unable to do so due to current workloads and we will destroy your data accordingly. This policy ensures you are not left waiting and have the certainty that your data is not compromised. In most instances however we are able to make contact within a 24 hour time frame. Please note our free initial advice service is available to clients at our total discretion and if your case is of a complex nature we may not be able to offer you a free consultation. However in these instances we will advise you what the charge would be for an initial fixed fee consultation.
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Recent CIPD research has been undertaken into working parents. The report can be found here: Employer Focus on Working Parents

The key findings of the research include:

  • Most organisations interviewed (49%) have a paternity or partner leave policy that allows for the legal minimum requirement of one or two weeks’ leave. Only 3% allow three weeks’ leave and 9% allow for 4 weeks’ leave. A further 13% provide between 5 and 28 weeks’ leave.
  • Over 36% of organisations interviewed provide the statutory minimum payments for paternity / partner pay. 16% provide 2 weeks of enhanced paternity at or near to the full rate of pay. 8% provide up to 4 weeks of enhanced paternity pay at or near the full rate of pay. Almost 9% provide between 5 to 28 weeks at or near the full rate of pay.
  • Almost half of organisations interviewed would support extending statutory paternity leave and pay.
  • Very few new fathers/partners and mothers have taken up the right to shared parental leave in the last two years. It appears that there is a downward trend in take-up.

CIPD has made some recommendations to policymakers including enhancing paternity/partner entitlements to 6 weeks at or near the full rate of pay. Further, there are recommendations around more financial support for parents returning to work after having babies and recommendations for the right to make a flexible working request to apply from day one of employment.

Astons Solicitors
9th September 2022