Information is Essential for Working Parents to Maximise the New Work and Families Bill

Yesterdayís bill announced by Alan Johnson is a positive step forward for working parents, offering more choice and flexibility by increasing maternity leave and providing fathers with more rights to paternal leave.

With working parents making up such a significant element of the workforce, it is essential that their needs are met in order to balance both home and work life. Offering more rights to request flexible working shows that the Government believes flexible working is compatible with, and beneficial to business efficiency.

However, it is vital that working parents are fully informed on what these new rights mean to them and how to realistically go about taking them up. It is often the case that family friendly working rights are very complex and this can frequently lead to a disproportionately small take-up.

Opportunity Links, a not for profit organisation provides information for working parents on childcare and flexible working, working closely with local authorities to develop and manage information strategies and systems that support this. A newly launched service, Parent Direct builds on the local authorityís Childrenís Information Service (CIS) by providing a wider breadth of information for parents on what flexible working practically means to them and guidance to ensure they are able to make informed choices about taking it up.

Opportunity Links has also recently developed the Estimator, a tool that helps working parents to estimate savings through employer-supported childcare.

Whilst we are pleased that this new legislation offers more choice and assistance to working parents, effective communication, support and advice to both business owners and employees on what it all practically means is essential to ensure its objective is met.

Lenna Thompson
Marketing Manager, Opportunity Links