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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.


    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    CMI urges action on gender pay gap as deadline looms

    by Jo Faragher 13 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 13 Sep 2021

    Action on the gender pay gap is “more urgent than ever”, according to the Chartered Management Institute.
    The CMI has...

    • Latest News
    • Family-friendly working
    • Flexible working

    Estate agent refused 5pm finish wins £185,000 payout

    by Jo Faragher 7 Sep 2021
    by Jo Faragher 7 Sep 2021

    A woman has won a sex discrimination case against her employer – receiving a payout of £185,000 – after it...

    • Gender
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Pregnant Then Screwed to give closing keynote at EB Live 2021

    by Zoe Wickens 31 Aug 2021
    by Zoe Wickens 31 Aug 2021

    Joeli Brearley, founder of charity and campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, will be delivering the closing keynote speech about the ...

    • Benefits
    • Coronavirus
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    LADbible Group to discuss diversity at EB Live 2021

    by Zoe Wickens 27 Aug 2021
    by Zoe Wickens 27 Aug 2021

    Sinead Allchurch, HR director at social media and entertainment publisher LADbible Group, will be participating in a panel talk about...

    • Infertility
    • Latest News
    • Family-friendly working

    How providing infertility support can foster an inclusive culture

    by Fiona Skinner and Bryony Clark 17 Aug 2021
    by Fiona Skinner and Bryony Clark 17 Aug 2021

    Parental policies have evolved considerably in recent years. But what about supporting staff through infertility?

    • Maternity
    • Latest News
    • Paternity

    Family-friendly policies: Five ways for employers to enhance their offering

    by Rachel Sharp 27 Jul 2021
    by Rachel Sharp 27 Jul 2021

    Being a family-friendly employer that goes beyond the statutory provisions can bring a host of benefits, including improving recruitment and...

    • Latest News
    • Family-friendly working
    • Flexible working

    Bill promises day-one right to flexible working

    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Jul 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 1 Jul 2021

    A bill that proposes to give workers the right to flexible working from their first day has been introduced in parliament.

    • Latest News
    • Indirect discrimination
    • Family-friendly working

    Nurse sacked over new shift patterns wins weekend working appeal

    by Jo Faragher 23 Jun 2021
    by Jo Faragher 23 Jun 2021

    Mother whose employer tried to move her onto frequently changing shift patterns has won her case for unfair dismissal and indirect sex discrimination.

    • Hybrid working
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Hybrid working – legal issues and discrimination risks (webinar)

    by Brightmine 23 Jun 2021
    by Brightmine 23 Jun 2021

    Huw Cooke guides you through legal issues around hybrid working – from contractual challenges to long-term discrimination risks.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Top 50 firms for gender equality named

    by Ashleigh Webber 29 Apr 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 29 Apr 2021

    Organisations that have maintained efforts to improve gender equality have been celebrated on The Times Top 50 Employers for Women.

    • Shared parental leave
    • Maternity
    • Latest News

    Volvo unveils global paid parental leave policy

    by Peter Crush 1 Apr 2021
    by Peter Crush 1 Apr 2021

    Volvo Cars has today announced the global roll-out of its brand new ‘Family Bond’ paid parental leave policy after a...

    • Sexual harassment
    • Zero hours
    • Carers

    Employment law in limbo: Key proposals to resurrect in 2021

    by Stephen Simpson 4 Feb 2021
    by Stephen Simpson 4 Feb 2021

    Many proposed employment law changes that the government has put forward in the last few years have stalled, mainly as...

    • Age discrimination
    • Latest News
    • Discrimination

    A sixth of redundant staff say they were selected for being a parent

    by Ashleigh Webber 28 Jan 2021
    by Ashleigh Webber 28 Jan 2021

    Law firm Slater and Gordon says some redundancy selection processes are unfair and employers are unlawfully making decisions based on protected characteristics.

    • Social mobility
    • Sexual harassment
    • Reasonable adjustments

    Diversity & Inclusion: Sign up to our free e-newsletter now

    by Personnel Today 23 Jan 2021
    by Personnel Today 23 Jan 2021

    Personnel Today’s fastest growing email newsletter focuses on all aspects of diversity and inclusion.
    Subscribe below to receive the latest...

    • Coronavirus
    • Employee relations
    • Employment law

    Flexible working: Can we go back on arrangements in future?

    by Jonathan Mansfield 8 Jan 2021
    by Jonathan Mansfield 8 Jan 2021

    The unprecedented shift towards home and flexible working brought about by Covid-19 has led many employers to announce permanent new...

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