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The Rights of Working Parents

By: Angela Armes - Updated: 12 Sep 2021 | comments*Discuss
 
Working Parents Parents Working Working

In the United Kingdom, we have one of Europe’s most parent-friendly systems which allows parents to have a quality of life and parental stability not always afforded by other countries.

The Rights of Working Parents

In short, parents in the UK have the working right to some or all of the following :

Flexible Working Hours

All working parents have the right to work flexible hours in order to ensure that their children are looked after correctly. Many working parents in the UK have to work long hours to be able to provide a stable life for the children. With this in mind, the government has introduced legislation that enables fathers and mothers alike to work a set number of hours (agreeable with their employer) in a slightly less formal structure.

This could allow a parent to work part-time hours during the course of a week starting at 9am and finishing at 3pm, for example; alternatively flexible working arrangements may allow for a parent to come into work later on a morning to allow transporting their children to school or a childminder.

Maternity Leave

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) can be paid to a mother for up to 39 weeks after she has had her baby. As a working parent, a mother is entitled to maternity leave and statutory maternity pay if she has been in constant employment with the same company or organisation for 26 weeks prior to the 15 week of her pregnancy. A mother has the right to take 33 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave, which adds up to 52 weeks of entitled leave.

Paternity Leave

In the last few years the legislation governing the working rights of fathers has changed to ensure that fathers can have paid leave to spend with their children after they are born. This is referred to as paternity leave and is paid at the same rates as maternity pay although only for one to two weeks. A father can spend one to two weeks at home with his newborn child if he is (a) the child’s biological father or (b) married to the child’s mother.

Paid and Unpaid Leave for Adoptive Parents

Although adoptive leave is a working right of any parent, it may only be paid for if there are already arrangements and agreements in place with your employer. As with maternity and paternity leave, you must be employed by your current employer for 26 weeks prior to becoming the child’s adoptive parent.

As an adoptive parent, you are entitled to up to 52 weeks leave (26 weeks of ordinary adoption leave followed by 26 weeks of additional adoption leave) which is paid at a flat rate known as Statutory Adoptive Pay (SAP). In order to qualify for adoptive leave – paid or unpaid – you must notify your employer well in advance that you are being matched to a child for adoption. This allows them to make the necessary arrangements – not only for cover – but also if their terms and conditions state you are entitled to Statutory Adoptive Pay.

All of the aforementioned rights are afforded to working parents in the UK and if you are an expectant mother or proud father-to-be then you should investigate the terms and conditions of your employment and enquire as to whether or not these working rights are supported by your employer.

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau should be able to help you find out what you are entitled to, and will also be able to help with understanding the terms and conditions of your contract of employment.

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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?
Carly - 12-Sep-21 @ 12:20 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.
Vasu - 20-Mar-21 @ 3:57 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
Austin Taylor - 12-Mar-21 @ 6:10 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?
Sarah - 7-Jan-21 @ 2:31 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
Abuchie - 19-Nov-20 @ 4:23 PM
My daughter has requested fixed days inorder to sort out child care but her boss has not been very helpful
Caz - 30-Oct-20 @ 8:19 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
Carolyn - 30-Oct-20 @ 8:16 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....
Josie - 9-Sep-20 @ 12:26 AM
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?!
FaithKobey09 - 6-Mar-20 @ 6:05 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 ??
MaryA - 6-Dec-19 @ 11:57 PM
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
Jamie - 5-Nov-19 @ 12:03 AM
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
Becca - 1-Sep-19 @ 11:09 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 isa 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..
Mr MeerKat - 7-Jun-19 @ 4:25 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 Saturdaynights, 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???
Vicki - 19-May-19 @ 5:48 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
Zara - 11-Apr-19 @ 9:37 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.
Maddog - 13-Oct-18 @ 2:29 PM
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 helpme with an advise as am struggling with child care
Bila - 13-Jul-18 @ 9:57 AM
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
Joe - 13-Jun-18 @ 7:16 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?
Lizzylou - 2-Jun-18 @ 8:25 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?
Luke2758 - 5-May-18 @ 8:32 PM
Di - Your Question:
I have a SGO for my grandson who is 6yrs and I need to rearrange my working shifts. I work in care home and I need to work four days off and three days in so I can work back to back with my partner so that one of use is their each day, does my employer have.to hourner my request.

Our Response:
Employers have to consider all requests for flexible working. They can refuse but need to give a good business reason for doing so.
LawAndParents - 25-Apr-18 @ 12:52 PM
I have a SGO for my grandson who is 6yrs and I need to rearrange my working shifts... I work in care home and I need to work four days off and three days in so I can work back to back with my partner so that one of use is their each day, does my employer have.to hourner my request.
Di - 23-Apr-18 @ 4:26 PM
Gemma - Your Question:
I returned to work from Maternity leave in October 2017. I agreed to work a split shift Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6am -1pm then 7pm -11pm with Wednesday working 6am-3pm and Fridays off. We agreed this on a trial basis to be reviewed in December. It was never reviewed but my new boss has decided he wants me working core hours. This means I have to pay for childcare and is pointless because I will be walking away with net part time salary working full time hours and will not get time with my daughter. Since he raised this a week ago he is making my life hell contacting me in the afternoons when he never contacts me in the mornings when I am working. I think he is trying to build a case that the flexible hours aren’t working. Do I have any rights around this or do I just have to quit my job which is basically where it’s heading

Our Response:
Was it working well with your old boss? Can you get some evidence of that? Do you have a union rep who you can talk to about this?
LawAndParents - 28-Mar-18 @ 12:34 PM
I returned to work from Maternity leave in October 2017. I agreed to work a split shift Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 6am -1pm then 7pm -11pm with Wednesday working 6am-3pm and Fridays off. We agreed this on a trial basis to be reviewed in December. It was never reviewed but my new boss has decided he wants me working core hours. This means I have to pay for childcare and is pointless because I will be walking away with net part time salary working full time hours and will not get time with my daughter. Since he raised this a week ago he is making my life hell contacting me in the afternoons when he never contacts me in the mornings when I am working. I think he is trying to build a case that the flexible hours aren’t working. Do I have any rights around this or do I just have to quit my job which is basically where it’s heading
Gemma - 26-Mar-18 @ 5:43 PM
Myself and my wife work every other weekend so when i am off l look after our son and my wife works that weekend and when she is off i work the other weekend our son is under 16and now mywork are saying i have to work 3 weekends out of 4 so there is no one to look after my son as we will both be at work can they make me do this is there some law i can show them to help my case .
Crossy - 2-Mar-18 @ 7:32 PM
Leechy - Your Question:
I have a job 3-6.15 and I have no one to pick my daughter up from nursery school. Is there any chance I could pick her up at 2 o clock for a short period so I can take her to a child minder before I start work?

Our Response:
If you don't start work until 3pm, this wouldn't be affect your working hours anyway would it?
LawAndParents - 12-Jan-18 @ 1:00 PM
Tez. have you applied for childcare as part of your tax credits? They will pay up to 70%. you should also get help with rent and council tax with such a low income. Ring your local housing office and also call tax credits to inform them you want to add this to your claim 03453003900. You can also update it all online if you search for manage tax credits online and it's done pretty much immediately (unless they need more info) I hope this helps your situation. We've all been there. Chin up ????
Clarebear84 - 10-Jan-18 @ 9:24 PM
I have a job 3-6.15 and I have no one to pick my daughter up from nursery school. Is there any chance I could pick her up at 2 o clock for a short period so I can take her to a child minder before I start work?
Leechy - 10-Jan-18 @ 4:40 PM
I need advise as I been working in a retail store for 15 years did the same days and hrs as i got 4 children .my manager has reviewed my flex and said my hrs are not for the business and gave me two options to work 12-4 or 1-5 I've explained i need to pick up my child from school for 3:30 . I've even offered to work 11:45- 2:45 , to be honest am on the shop floor at 10 biggest floor and there are days when am on my own until next member of staff starts 11 or 12 .where do I stand I need advise
mother - 17-Dec-17 @ 9:55 AM
My daughters nursery contacted my work saying my child was poorly and needed picking up my employer then contacted the nursery to confirm this after I left site and with no permission is this legal
keithy - 14-Oct-17 @ 10:09 AM
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