Flexible parental leave will support Government’s youth strategy

In response to the Government’s Youth Crime Plan, shopworkers’ union, Usdaw, is renewing its call for more flexible parental leave and for it to be extended to working parents of children up to the age of 16.

The Union believes that allowing parents leave from work to look after children at difficult times, such as on exclusion from school, will help family cohesion and prevent young people at a loose end from getting into trouble.

John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, commented:

“We welcome the Government’s plan to reduce youth crime, and especially the focus on supporting families.

“Working parents need to be allowed the flexibility to deal with issues with children of all ages as and when they arise. They want to be there for their children when they need them, and help them stay away from crime.

“Currently parents of children up to the age of 5 can take up to 13 weeks unpaid leave per year. We’d like to see the Government extend this to age 16, in line with the right to request flexible working hours. We are also calling for parents to be able to take that leave in blocks of one day rather than one week and decrease the notice period from 21 days. This would allow them to take their children to medical appointments, attend school events and parents evenings.

“Most importantly, in the light of the Government’s Youth Crime Plan, our proposals would mean that parents can be there at times when children need extra help, such as when starting a new school, during exams or when they have behavioural problems.”

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 364,000 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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