Good news for working parents

Shopworkers’ Union, Usdaw, is hailing the extension of flexible working rights for parents, announced today, as a victory for working parents.

Under the new law, working parents with children up to the age of 16 will have the right to request flexible working. Previously, only parents of children up to age six or disabled children up to age 18 had the right to request flexible working.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, praised the Government for listening:

“Usdaw has campaigned hard for an extension to flexible working rights and we are pleased that the Government has listened to the needs of our members, 75% of whom are parents or carers. In the service sector, staff already work very flexibly, according to ‘the needs of the business’ to respond to customer demand. But often this flexibility is at the expense of spending time with their families. The needs of children do not end when a child reaches six and childcare is actually more difficult to find for children over 11.

“We therefore welcome this commitment and hope that the legislation will help to redress the balance and enable staff to successfully request working hours that enable them to spend more time with their older children.

“This extended right to request flexible working is good news both for working parents and their employers. For business, offering flexible hours significantly increases the pool of talent they can recruit from and helps retain staff when their home circumstances change.

“This is a significant victory for Usdaw and our members that will help millions of hard-working families.”

In March, members of the Union who struggle to spend time with their teenage children because of their hours of work travelled to London to make the case to Imelda Walsh for the age limit to be raised as part of the review of flexible working.

Usdaw successfully campaigned for the introduction of the right to request flexible working, which was introduced for parents of children under six and parents of disabled children up to the age of 18. The right was extended last year to working carers of elderly and disabled adults.

Usdaw members commented on their need for flexible working:

“Working in retail is difficult and companies expect staff to work very long and unreasonable hours, which don’t always fit with family life. I’m lucky if I spend more than two hours a day with my children. It is very difficult to spend quality time, even at weekends, because of having to work Saturday.” Karen

“I would like to work around my son’s school times. Weekends off, spend more time with my son, family values, bond more.” Andy

“My wife died five years ago and left me a seven year old daughter. I have asked for day shift, but have been refused as it would be unfair to take managers from days. I may have to give up a job I have done for 20 years to support my personal responsibilities.” Name withheld

For more information visit Usdaw's Supporting Parents and Carers campaign: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns/supportingparentsandcarers/

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media Officer, Cherry Hamilton, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail cherry.hamilton@usdaw.org.uk
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fourth biggest trade union, with over 359,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service at: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/site/email.html

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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