If you are anything like me, sometimes politics just all seems too much. The choices seem to become even more blurred , or more extreme, and I find it hard to know what one political party believe from one minute to the next.
However, I have always been acutely interested in the developments around helping parents back into work after children, or assisting them in making decisions about the care of their child on an even keel. My life as a work at home mum is joyful, but chaotic As a result, I am keen to watch developments that might help others start in life being easier than mine was.
The introduction of shared parental leave is designed to try and address the balance whereby the father gets only minimal time off after the birth of a child, but the mother is able to take up to a year. From April next year, this leave of 52 weeks can be shared between mother and father, as long as this is done in plenty of time. This shared parental leave legislation comes hot on the heels of the changes to the right to request flexible working that came into effect in June of 2014.
Shared Parental Leave in a nutsell enables:
- Couples working will be able to share out the leave they take to look after their baby
- Women are entitled to 39 weeks of pay and 52 weeks leave, any leave not taken after the birth can be shared between the two parents
- As birth can be a tad difficult, there is two weeks compulsory leave after giving birth for the mum, so she can recover physically. Clearly for some, this period could be longer
- Whatever is left, can be shared equally with 8 weeks notice required for employers.
Due to these changes, last week I had the pleasure of joining a Google hangout with Britmums, and Jo Swinson, the Junior Equalities Minister. Jo is also the MP for East Dunbartonshire. Also on the hangout were some great bloggers; John Adams from Dad Blog UK, Marianne Weekes from Maris World, and both Jennifer Howze and Susanna Scott, the co-founders of Britmums.
On the hangout we discussed how the legislation will, she hopes, change the way family life, fits around employed life. I was impressed with the passion with which Jo spoke, in particular that
“I know just how it is, having gone through it all myself just a year ago.”
Knowing that there is a working parent fighting our corner really helps….
We talked about:
- How the government is trying to change big business culture to improve opinion of asking and taking flexible leave
- How Jo feels the legislation may have a longer term positive effect on equality within the workforce
- How business can benefit from Share Parental Leave
- How us parents will benefit from the changes too.
I know its only short – but we got through a lot – we are an efficient bunch ;-)
Why don’t you take a look?
Do I have an opinion on this? Naturally.
Working around your children is a topic that is hugely close to my heart. I gave up a senior role as a business analyst to look after my kids. This blog was born of my inability to find a creative, taxing, and enjoyable role that worked around having two small children.
Clearly, shared parental leave is a great step in the right direction for families to truly be able to make decisions on caring for their children based not on what gender they are, but what their motivations, their wants, and needs are. It is hard to break out of the expectations of the employer that the woman will give up work to care, and the man will continue to work, regardless of the equality in salaries.
Though this legislation is helping us move in the right direction, we are a long way from every couple being on a level playing field here. It is going to take more than this legislation, particularly within big business culture which is where I have worked, as has my husband, to create equality between the sexes. The glass ceiling for women in the boardroom will need a fair bit more assistance to shatter.
We ARE going the right way though, lets hope that this starts to weaken the glass at the very least.
Photo credit: Freedigitalphotos.net / franky242
Helen
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine! Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time. KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania. Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on. Get in touch TODAY!