The Rights of Working Parents

Originally written by Angela Armes, updated by the editorial team on 23rd October 2026

What rights do working parents have?

This guide covers England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has separate employment law with different rules, including on flexible working and paternity leave, so check nidirect and the Labour Relations Agency if you work there.

Most rights below belong to employees, though some people without employee status can still claim statutory pay. Last legally reviewed 23 October 2026. Confirm current rates and conditions on GOV.UK.

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Flexible working

All employees can request flexible working from their first day in a job. This could mean part time or compressed hours, job sharing or home working. It is a right to ask, not a right to receive.

Requests must be in writing and meet the statutory requirements. You can make two in 12 months, but not two at once. Your employer must decide within two months, including any appeal, unless you agree otherwise. They must consult you before rejecting a request and can refuse only for listed business reasons.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Leave when a child arrives

Maternity leave: Pregnant employees can take up to 52 weeks, however long they have worked for their employer. Statutory Maternity Pay lasts up to 39 weeks if you meet the earnings and service conditions. If you do not qualify, you may be able to claim Maternity Allowance. You are also entitled to reasonable paid time off for antenatal care, and an eligible partner can take unpaid time off for up to two appointments.

Paternity leave: Eligibility depends on your relationship to the child or parent and your responsibility for the child's upbringing. Since 6 April 2026 the leave applies from day one, but Statutory Paternity Pay keeps its own service and earnings conditions. You can take one or two weeks, together or separately, within 52 weeks of the birth or placement, including after shared parental leave.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Parental Rights Checker lets you check your legal rights as a parent on education, health and welfare decisions. Try it now →

Showing 20 of 72 questions

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Carly 12/09/2021 at 12:20 pm

When I first started my job 2 years ago I was advised I would be working a Saturday once a month at the most. Another employee left and then it was pushed on me to work every Saturday until they got a new person. They then got a new person who could only work 2 days a week, but not a weekend, so I was just expected to keep working a Saturday. I brought it up with them that due to having a toddler, I cannot work a Saturday as I have no childcare, they then said it’s non negotiable and that’s the way it is, but I’m having to take my 3 year old to work with me 8-5 every single Saturday and it’s really not fair on her, so I’ve not had to hand my notice in as I feel I have no choice as I cannot keep taking her to work with me every weekend. Is this right? Can they do this? They are still asking me to work until the end of the month, but that means working Saturdays still, should I refuse this?

Vasu 20/03/2021 at 3:57 pm

My husband is working in Lidl. He. Is working 7Days 24hours forcible but i am planning to go to work. Is possible to get paermanant days or permanant hours working shirt to myhusband. Then i can find work on off times.

Austin Taylor 12/03/2021 at 6:10 pm

My step daughter may lose her job due to commitments to childcare. She is working 37.5 hours a week and has recently become a manager within her firm. The family help as much as possible but we all need to work too. As she is still within her 3 months probation period she is very worried but her employer knew that she was a parent before they took her on. I was hoping somebody her might be able to point me in the right direction of the best info on the net. The gov website and google just show what you are entitled to when you are expecting but it seems that once the child is born you are expected to fend for yourself. Being a parent isn’t even a protected characteristic which seems mad. Thanks I’m advance

Sarah 07/01/2021 at 2:31 pm

Hi, I have asked my employer if I am able to work a fixed 6am-2pm shift until my children are allowed back into school.
One is aged 14 and one aged 10, for home schooling and childcare. I can’t afford to be furlough and I’m not asking to be and I also can’t afford to take it unpaid.
I just don’t understand why they are being ass’s.
Have a done everything right?

Abuchie 19/11/2020 at 4:23 pm

Hi
I have just been disciplinary hearing at work because I had to leave work early because my daughters school phoned to pick her up. Had to do this two other times one time my daughter was rushed to hospital. When I did it a second time had a meeting with my boss and told me I had 2 get a contingency plan in place which I have done such as putting my mother has first contact at the school. My daughter suffers from ibs and sensory aura migraines. But if my mother can't get her from school I have to I have no other choice. Today she said I can get fired for this is that right

Caz 30/10/2020 at 8:19 am

My daughter has requested fixed days inorder to sort out child care but her boss has not been very helpful

Carolyn 30/10/2020 at 8:16 am

My daughter has a 9 month old and her boss gives her the next weeks rota at short notice and therefore she struggles with child care
Does her boss have to give her a certain amount of notice
She has requested fixed days but her boss has said no

Josie 09/09/2020 at 12:26 am

Hi I got fired today. I was work 2:30pm-10:30pm mon-fri.
I've been working with this company for a month now. I'm in the process of putting my 1yr in daycare, so for now I had to go with babysitters. I only called in twice because my babysitter wasn't able to make it. I got a call today saying I was fired because I didn't have a reliable babysitter.. I also never got a notice they said I wasn't work for the rest to the week....

FaithKobey09 06/03/2020 at 6:05 pm

Hi, I am after some advice I am struggling with 2 days at work due to my parents going on holiday my employer is being less than understanding and refusing to let me book holiday as I have only been there a few month, is there anything I can do?!

MaryA 06/12/2019 at 11:57 pm

Hi. I was hoping someone can advise please. My work have told myself & my colleagues that they do not accept dependant leave, if our kids are ill and we don’t go to work then it’s ‘non-authorised’ absence and we receive a ‘disciplinary’ If the school calls to say the child is ill then we can only leave if we get someone in to cover otherwise if we leave without their approval it could result in dismissal. Yes it would put them a staff member down but we work in a large team but no matter what our kids come first. Surely they can’t stop us leaving ??

Jamie 05/11/2019 at 12:03 am

My employee has just demoted me due to the fact after having my child I can only do part time now I'm off maternity. I would just like to know if this is legal or discrimination against me

Becca 01/09/2019 at 11:09 pm

I currently work shifts as a senior carer in a care home and also have a 3 year old daughter who who is looked after by my mother when i’m at work. (She also works shifts) My previous manager sat with me and we arranged my shifts perfectly around my mothers shifts to ensure my child is taken care of. I since have had a new manager and two of my colleagues have just handed in their notice. My new manager has told our team that our rota’s will have to change to accommodate the new staff but this will be impossible for me to do as my shifts are exactly how i need them to be in order for my mother to continue helping me with childcare. This is really stressing me out and i dont know what i can do??? Please advise me

Mr MeerKat 07/06/2019 at 4:25 pm

Me and my wife have a 2 month baby and she due to go back to work soon.
we both work for the same company but in different departments..my wife's is a Waitress.. And I am a night chef..
My wife's situation has no consequences. She can work mornings or evenings..
Me on the other hand feel helpless.
I was given 2 choices..
First choice is to continue to do night. But when I get home my wife be going to work and I will have stay awake looking after our child till she gets back.. Which means I will be awake for 21 hours and asleep for 3 hours before I have to leave to go work again.
The second choice I had was to move to day shift but take a pay cut and a demotion..

The company seems more concerned with my wife coming back to work

Where do I do about this if I can do anything.?

And if my wife started a different job..
How can we guarantee that one of us is at home with the baby..

Vicki 19/05/2019 at 5:48 pm

I have an employee who has stated she cannot work certain shifts due to lack of childcare since her marriage broke down. We have accommodated her to her requirements, which means other team members have had to readjust their shifts. Thus includes Saturday nights. However, since we have rearranged her shifts for her and she no longer works Saturday nights, every Saturday night since she has gone out socialising. Team members are doing her shifts on the factor that she doesn't have childcare- not so that she can go out drinking. What are our rights as an employer? Is there anything I can do???

Zara 11/04/2019 at 9:37 pm

Hello I am looking for some advice, my daughter who is 16 years old she has a job at a local holiday park I am just wondering what time she is allowed to work till they seem to have her working till 11pm some evening she has a shift coming up starting work at 1pm and finishing at 11pm on a Saturday with only half a hour break, I don't thin nk this is right she has mentioned to her employer about this but they have not done anything she starts her gcse soon and I am worried it is going to effect them with her working late

Maddog 13/10/2018 at 2:29 pm

Hi a friend has recently been sacked after working as an electrician for years for the same company due to him refusing to working abroad at the minute due to his new born baby being in icu after being born early with complications. He hasn't even taken his paternity leave. He feels he cannot be working abroad whilst his little girl is still in hospital but has been going to work as normal and was saving his paternity leave for when she goes home. Does he have any rights on his side? Thankyou.

Bila 13/07/2018 at 9:57 am

Hi, I have been working for the same company for the last 10 years, recently my line manager confessed to me that she was struggling and she really needs a help of a manager during the day( iam working evening shifts) so I said that my husband who was working on days at the time has been offered a job during evening but he didn’t take it because of our 4 children who must be looked after so he is doing days and more
evenings, anyway she said please speak to your husband and see if he is happy going on evenings and you work days with me, I have agreed also spoke to my husband arranged everyting and told her that I was ready to start working with her from the 2nd of July. She said ok that’s great let’s let our director know of the news, after I told him he said no to me that he doesn’t have a manager position for me but if I want I can work as an administrator for £5000 pound less in my wage during the day.
Please help me with an advise as am struggling with child care

Joe 13/06/2018 at 7:16 pm

I am a hospitality staff working for nights. As a separated father and in recent court order. I have to have to pick up my daughter from school on alternative weeks and return her back to school on Monday. So alternatively I am taking 1 day and then 3 days off. My department has now refused to give weekly off as above.

Recently I requested my company for a week of unpaid leave as my daughter will be with me during 3 week holiday period was refused. So I requested for day shift so I am at home during the nights. This is also declined

Is there any law that can support me in my case

Lizzylou 02/06/2018 at 8:25 pm

hi. I presently work within a large public corporation on a part time basis. I am a single mother and my family can only help before and after school. My youngest son goes to nursery which is available to me on week days. The manager is asking me to work nights and weekends, which means potentially that I will pay more in childcare than I earn in a month. What are my rights? Can I say no?

Luke2758 05/05/2018 at 8:32 pm

I started a job on march 1st and explained i would need 1 day off a week in order to see my son, opted to work over 48 hours (chef) 2 months in i was told i would have to work 7 days a week at least once or twice through june/july/august as i feel this would cause emotional damage to my 3 year old son i have decided to quit, but i feel somewhat harrassed for having to raise a child but legally where do i stand on this issue?

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