Parents need flexible working to survive the recession

Mums and dads across the country need flexible working to help them beat the credit crunch – and so do businesses.

So says the Family and Parenting Institute in response to The Federation of Small Businessí calls to delay the plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all parents with children aged 16 and under*.

Two thirds of parents fear they will not be able to pay the bills in six months time – of which 18% blame the cost of childcare**.

Yet only 7% said they would cut back on childcare costs. This suggests that although it is big financial burden, for many parents there is no alternative.

Being able to work flexibly helps parents juggle the time they spend at work and looking after their children. It is a huge issue for mums and dads in this country. A third of parents want to have their say on policies around flexible working – compared to 29% wanting to be more vocal about childcare***.

Sally Gimson, Director of Communications at the Family and Parenting Institute said: ìParents have told us they want to be able to work flexibly. It makes a massive difference to their family life – and can help improve their financial situation by saving them money on childcare.

ìAnd in a recession lots of small businesses are going to be expecting parents to work flexibly too - so it should be a two way street. If businesses are concerned about the extra paperwork, they could offer flexible working out right to all staff which would help them save time and money. Flexible working need not mean less working but being more imaginative about how work is organised.î

Currently only parents of disabled children aged 18 and under, and parents of under six year olds have the right to ask their employer to work flexibly. This is due to change in April to include all parents with children 16 and under.

* STAT 1
**Findings from the Families and the credit crunch 2008 report: STAT 2
***Findings from the Family and Parenting Institute omnibus survey: STAT 3