Working Families

53% of frontline workers are also primary caregivers for children, whilst 13% care for elderly parents, according to UKG’s Perspectives from the Frontline Workers report. Frontline workers are faced with huge challenges in balancing work and their caring responsibilities, leading many to struggle to find the support they need. When faced with mandated overtime and demanding shift patterns, the demand for flex is high. 🚒 46% of all UK frontline workers want flexible hours, self-scheduling, or the ability to adjust shift start and stop times. 🚑 31% prefer a compressed workweek (four 10-hour days). 🚛 30% would prefer part-time work, that doesn't impact their benefits. Frontline workers represent a significant part of the overall UK workforce and are key to delivering essential services, so why are they being overlooked? Share your thoughts below. #FrontLine #Worker #Parent #Carer #WorkingFamilies #HR

Throughly enjoyed taking part in Working Families roundtable yesterday, organised by the fab Susanne Woodhams, on Neonatal Care and the legislation brought in by Stuart McDonald and the previous government. It was also inspiring hearing how employers are already going above and beyond the law and its statutory requirements from some of those who spoke at the event. Finally, here’s a fantastic guide to the new rights the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act grants to people who need to take this new leave: https://lnkd.in/eeMD8uYU).

Yesterday, Simon Kelleher Working Families Head of Policy and Influencing, met with Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, to discuss paternity leave. The meeting alongside Sarah Russell MP, Joeli Brearley of Pregnant Then Screwed and George Gabriel of The Dad Shift, focused the vital reforms needed to the current paternity leave policy and our recommendations of how best to support parents and carers during this time. The UK has the worst paternity leave in Europe. We believe it's time to take proactive steps towards changing that. 👇 Simon Kelleher, Working Families Head of Policy and Influencing: "Each week our Legal Advice Helpline hears from too many women who feel forced to leave their jobs or take a step back from work upon becoming mothers. It’s great to see the Government making access to flexible working easier and introducing gender pay gap action plans through the Employment Rights Bill. However, this is only half the story. To address maternity discrimination, the gender pay and pensions gap, and the glass ceiling, fathers and partners need to be given their own, non-transferable, blocks of decently paid parental leave. Research shows that when this is readily available, fathers take leave. It can allow mothers to return to work sooner, should they wish to, and it can support the maternal transition back into work. Crucially, we know that time spent with their child in the first year sets fathers up to be more confident caregivers which has lasting effects. We were delighted to meet with Justin Madders, Minister for Employment Rights, to discuss this issue alongside Sarah Russell MP, Dad Shift and Pregnant Then Screwed. And we look forward to the result of the Government's review into parental leave. Watch this space." #PaternityLeave #Policy #Reforms #Influence #WorkingFamilies #Parents #Carers #GovernmentPolicy #JustinMadders #PregnantThenScrewed #DadShift

BIG NEWS! 🏆 We have extended the entry deadline for our annual Best Practice Awards. You have until 5.30pm on Friday 7th March to submit your nomination. Why Enter? 🏆Gain recognition as a leader in family-friendly and flexible working. 🏆Showcase your organisation’s innovative policies and culture. 🏆Boost employee engagement and attract top talent. 🏆Demonstrate your commitment to workplace wellbeing and inclusivity. With nine categories to choose from, there’s an opportunity for every organisation to shine. 📢 Winners announced at our prestigious awards ceremony in June. 🙌 Don’t miss this chance to celebrate your commitment to supporting employees and building a truly flexible workplace. ENTER NOW: https://loom.ly/c-jqOGI

What's the one thing that makes your working day easier? This is one of the questions put to me by Stacey Townley when pulling together a 'meet the team' series for Working Families. It made me stop and think. What makes my day 'easier'? Not better, not engaged, or motivated, as employers often focus on - but easier. It's a great question because by making my working day easier, you'll benefit from the by-product such as increased productivity, engagement, motivation to go above and beyond etc. I considered a few things, such as ; the use of technology that enables me to easily contact and collaborate with colleagues, or being able to book my annual leave by the hour giving me greater flex for my life and wellbeing outside of work.... Ultimately I landed on, the ability to work remotely. This has been such a game changer in making my working day easier. Working from home isn't a distraction for me, and I have a long list of the benefits for me, my family and the organisation I work for, but the top one has to be - carving out time for morning exercise! This is a big deal for me, and I'll share why. Exercise gives me mental clarity, it gets the happy hormones running through my body, it sets me up for a productive day before I've even sat at my desk. Having witnessed a dear friends mental health decline, you realise the need is beyond just 'being productive'. It's vital for us to stay healthy. Because once we hit that slippery slope of burn out, we're vulnerable to other things. Flexible working is more than freeing up some time for parents to pick up the kids, or visit an elderly loved one, or attend an appointment. It goes beyond practicalities like this, and supports our mental health in a hugely meaningful and tangible way. I refuse to ever let my work compromise my mental health. This means I will never choose to work for an organisation that cannot give me the flexibility I need in order to balance work-life demands and support my mental health. And it's an honour to do the work that I do at Working Families, to help organisations better support working parents and carers with flexible, family-friendly practices. I'd love to hear, what's the one thing that makes your working day easier? Do you also find this supports your mental health and overall wellbeing? #flexibleworking #remote #hybrid

Why is it important for workplaces to recognise emotional health? Today is #EmotionalHealthDay - a time dedicated to encouraging conversation and understanding of how we recognise and manage our emotions. Emotions can impact our everyday working lives. With the line between work and home often blurring it's important to develop tools which support our emotional health. But what can employers and organisations do to support their workforce? 🧡 Role model – Talk openly about emotional health and set an example through self-awareness and positive behaviours. 🧡 Create open spaces – Encourage honest conversations where people feel safe to express challenges and emotions. 🧡 Lead from the front – Offer coaching, mentoring, and leadership development that integrates emotional best practice. 🧡 Support Well-being – Provide resources and space for employees to manage stress, recharge, and build resilience. For more insight and information, we recommend following The Centre for Emotional Health 👇 #EmotionalHealth #Awareness #Wellbeing #Employers #HR

Almost a year to the day we hosted our Advice Service Hackathon, which saw 20 employment law specialists from 15 firms, review and update a quarter of our employment law advice pages. We are thrilled to be shortlisted in the #LexisNexisLegalAwards for the Pro Bono Award.🏆 Winners will be announced on 13th March! #LLA2025 #ProBono Linklaters Lizzie Harker-Noor LexisNexis UK

Get to know the faces behind Working Families in our Meet The Team series 👋. This week we're introducing Hannah Francis, who works within the employer relations team as a Relationship Manager. To learn more about Working Families and how we can support you, take a look here: https://loom.ly/An96tGo #MeetTheTeam #WorkingFamilies #ThirdSector #Charity #HR #Employer

Are you clued up on pregnancy policy and guidance? As an employer it's important that you are up-to-date on the latest legal guidance for any pregnant people in your organisation. Click here for more: https://loom.ly/zomqE9A Working Families has a huge resource of legal pages and advice which supports you and your team. Need help? Find an answer to your query here: https://loom.ly/WxGLC0w Alternatively, find out how being an employer member grants you access to our dedicated Relationship Managers, events and webinars: https://loom.ly/K5g0Dvc #HR #Employers #Policy #Advice #WorkingFamilies #Employer

Resharing here with our network 👇. If you are a male carer or know of someone with caring responsibilities, and would like to share your experience please speak to Dan Deahan.