Comment on the Children and Families Bill

Work-life organisation Working Families has welcomed the publication of the Children and Families Bill today which extends the right to request flexible working to all employees and introduces shared parental leave.

Working Families Chief Executive, Sarah Jackson said:

“These changes are good for families and good for business. All our research and day to day work with our employer members shows that flexible working brings performance gains. Employers who allow flexible working benefit from better retention rates, reduced absenteeism and from loyal and motivated employees.

"We welcome the greater flexibility for parents to share the leave and pay in the first year of their baby’s life. Over time these changes will change attitudes in the workplace, allow fathers more time to spend with their children, and start to tackle the maternity discrimination that so blights our helpline callers.”