FLEXIBLE WORKING
Employers expect difficulty coping with new family friendly rights
Many employers believe that the implementation of new legal rights for working mothers and fathers, which are set to come into force on 6 April, will cause them difficulty, according to a survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and KPMG.
The survey of employers looks at the impact on organisations of provisions in the Work and Families Act (WFA) 2006. The new legislation will extend maternity and adoption pay from six to nine months and extend the right to request flexible working to carers of adults from 6 April 2007.
Despite concerns about improved maternity and paternity leave provision, the survey found attitudes towards extending the right to request flexible working are more positive.
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Only 4% of employers surveyed think that the new right for carers to request flexible working will cause them significant difficulties. This is consistent with previous CIPD research which shows that the government’s flexible working laws have been very successful to date.
Key survey results
Although most employers consider themselves to be prepared for the implementation of the Act, only one in ten employers surveyed think that any of the provisions of the WFA 2006 will be beneficial to their organisations.
Smaller employers are more likely than larger employers to cite potential difficulties and less likely to see potential benefits.
Almost two-thirds (64%) of employers surveyed think that the paternity leave provisions of the WFA 2006 will cause them either some (48%) or significant (16%) difficulties, while 57% think the maternity and adoption pay provisions will cause difficulties.
A final word
“It is clear from the survey that there is scepticism about some of the WFA provisions, especially those relating to paternity leave, and concern about the difficulties that might arise in implementing them. It is possible that such reservations simply reflect the caution with which employers tend to embrace any new regulations. But the Government needs to reassure employers about the administration of the new provisions.
The new rights for fathers won’t be introduced until 2008 at the earliest, but it is important for the government to use the intervening time to ensure that the provisions will help workers with families without making life more difficult for those who employ them. Until they know how the new arrangements will work, employers will be understandably worried about the likely complexity of, in effect, transferring statutory leave and pay from mothers to fathers.” - Mike Emmott, CIPD Adviser, Employee Relations.
Useful sources of information on flexible working
The Directgov government site provides an easy-to-use guide to UK employment law, including flexible working regulations for parents. Web site: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/index.htm
The DTI government department has updated its guidance to take account of recent legislative changes. Web site: www.dti.gov.uk/employment/workandfamilies/flexible-working/index.html
If you are a UK registered small or medium sized company looking for help and advice, get in touch with your local Business Link, tel: 0845 600 9006. Web site. www.businesslink.gov.uk
The employment relations service Acas produces a number of useful guidance publications for both employers and employees. Acas also operate a helpline to answer employment questions, tel: 08457 47 47 47 (open from 08.00 – 18.00, Monday to Friday). Web site: www.acas.org.uk