More flexibility for working parents in the UK
I don’t know all the details, but I have read that in the UK, parents have the right to request flexible working schedules when they have children up to six years of age.
Recently, the government announced plans to give all parents of children up to the age of 16 the right to request flexible working times:
The decision to increase the age to 16 comes in the wake of a report by Imelda Walsh, human resources director at Sainsbury’s supermarket chain.
“I am convinced that the challenges which parents with older children face are considerable, and that the arguments for raising the age to 16 are compelling,” she said.
“This change would offer an important opportunity for parents to have extra flexibility at key times in their children’s lives.”
I’ve only had a teenager for a few months, but every day I can see the need to be around more rather than less during these years.
Perhaps, one day the idea will catch on here in the US.
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4 opinions for More flexibility for working parents in the UK
Loth
May 30, 2008 at 2:51 am
I am in the UK and this is certainly the case but read the thing carefully: parents have the right to REQUEST flexible working, not the right to HAVE flexible working. Employers have to give proper consideration to the request but can refuse it if they have good reason for doing so. It’s a start but by no means the complete deal.
JayMonster
May 30, 2008 at 7:36 am
I wouldn’t hope to expect to see this come to the U.S. in any sort of time frame that would be meaningful to my lifetime (or in my lifetime at all to be honest). This just becomes a “barrier to profits” and as I previously mentioned, the corporate structure already views employees as expenses and not assets, so they don’t really care. They will lobby far and near, with plenty of lobbyist dollars to ensure this sort of thing never sees the light of day in Congress.
that girl
May 30, 2008 at 12:33 pm
That’s sad..it’s sad that big corporations making,hmm..I don’t know.. only about a gazillion dollars in PROFIT each day can’t even CONSIDER flexible hours for parents of small children for the greater good of society..
carolyn
May 30, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I often tell people with young children that it DOES NOT get easier the older they get. It gets harder - being the parent of 2 teens is way more work that being the parent of 2 toddlers.
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