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Family-friendly working

Employees have a number of fundamental family-friendly rights in the workplace. These include the right to maternity leave, paternity leave, and adoption leave. Shared parental leave is available to parents of children due on or after 5 April 2015, and adopters where the child is placed for adoption on or after 5 April 2015. Ordinary parental leave is a type of unpaid leave that can be taken until the child’s 18th birthday.

From 30 June 2015, the right to request flexible working was extended to all employees with 26 weeks’ qualifying service. Prior to this date, it was available to parents of young children and carers. All employees are also entitled to take a reasonable amount of time off work “to take action which is necessary” in relation to the care of certain dependants.


    • Shared parental leave
    • Latest News
    • Maternity

    Government launches ‘landmark’ review of parental leave

    by Nic Paton 1 Jul 2025
    by Nic Paton 1 Jul 2025

    The government has launched what it is calling a “landmark” review of parental leave and pay, including what the statutory...

    • Adoption
    • Latest News
    • Family-friendly working

    How HR can support families with adoption

    by Geoffrey Williams 1 Jul 2025
    by Geoffrey Williams 1 Jul 2025

    The government has pledged a review of the parental leave system to strengthen family-friendly rights, but HR can be more proactive when it comes to adoption.

    • Nursery provision
    • Childcare
    • Latest News

    Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays

    by Chris Locke, Executive Director Work+Family at Bright Horizons 23 Jun 2025
    by Chris Locke, Executive Director Work+Family at Bright Horizons 23 Jun 2025

    Businesses play a crucial role in supporting working parents and carers, especially during the school holidays.
    In today’s evolving workplace,...

    • Shared parental leave
    • Gender
    • Maternity

    Parental leave system is ‘broken’, say MPs

    by Jo Faragher 10 Jun 2025
    by Jo Faragher 10 Jun 2025

    The current system of parental leave in the UK has “fundamental failings”, according to a new report from the Women and Equalities Commission.

    • Shared parental leave
    • Latest News
    • Family-friendly working

    Government urged to commit to wholesale review of parental leave

    by Nic Paton 6 May 2025
    by Nic Paton 6 May 2025

    Academics, unions and charities have combined to call on the government to carry out a comprehensive review of parental leave,...

    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Union branch wants rights for polyamorous people

    by Rob Moss 9 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 9 Apr 2025

    Union branch submits motion to the Scottish Trades Union Congress for polyamory and polyamorous relationships to be protected rights.

    • Nursery provision
    • Childcare
    • Carers

    Why 2025 is ‘make or break’ for your working families (webinar)

    by Rob Moss 25 Feb 2025
    by Rob Moss 25 Feb 2025

    ON-DEMAND | Watch our webinar on the key trends among working parents and carers and how employers can respond.

    • Latest News
    • Employment contracts
    • Family-friendly working

    Storm Éowyn: Five common employer queries about severe weather

    by Stephen Simpson 24 Jan 2025
    by Stephen Simpson 24 Jan 2025

    Employers' questions on pay, attendance and childcare that are likely to arise during severe weather.

    • Stress
    • Nursery provision
    • Childcare

    Working parents increasingly stressed

    by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2025

    Working parents increasingly stressed as number of employees who say employer is highly supportive of family life falls by nearly a third.

    • Shared parental leave
    • Latest News
    • Paternity

    Fewer than 2% of dads take shared parental leave

    by Jo Faragher 2 Dec 2024
    by Jo Faragher 2 Dec 2024

    Fewer than 2% of new dads have benefitted from shared parental leave in the 10 years since it began, according to new research.

    • Adoption
    • Carers
    • Maternity

    E.ON UK goes home with the Family-Friendly Employer of the Year Award 2024

    by Jo Faragher 20 Nov 2024
    by Jo Faragher 20 Nov 2024

    E.ON UK wins Family-Friendly Employer of the Year Award 2024.

    • Shared parental leave
    • Latest News
    • Maternity

    Working Families reveals average parental benefits

    by Jo Faragher 13 Nov 2024
    by Jo Faragher 13 Nov 2024

    Employers are offering an average of 18 weeks’ fully paid maternity leave as a day-one right, according to the latest Working Families benchmark figures.

    • Age
    • Carers
    • Latest News

    Family-friendly strategies for the Gen Z workforce (webinar)

    by Rob Moss 16 Oct 2024
    by Rob Moss 16 Oct 2024

    ON-DEMAND | Watch our webinar on the needs and wants of younger generations and how employers and line managers can respond.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours

    Employment Rights Bill: 12 key takeaways

    by Liz Stevens 11 Oct 2024
    by Liz Stevens 11 Oct 2024

    Liz Stevens, professional support lawyer at law firm Birketts, highlights the key takeaways from the long-awaited Employment Rights Bill

    • Fire and rehire
    • Zero hours
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Employment Rights Bill: government outlines next steps for future reforms

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Oct 2024
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 10 Oct 2024

    The government unveils its Next Steps to Make Work Pay alongside the publication of its Employment Rights Bill today.

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Personnel Today
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