Got questions about the govt's parental leave and pay review? Ask them here for our LIVE Zoomchat with Employment Rights Minister Justin Madders MP!

[RhiannonEMumsnet]

Hi everyone,

We’re pleased to announce a Mumsnet Asks Zoomchat with Justin Madders MP, the Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets, on Wednesday 6th August at 10.30am. Justin’s ministerial brief covers the government’s review of parental leave and pay - including maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave - which is looking at how the system can better support both parents and employers. His portfolio also covers wider employment rights issues, like flexible working and sick pay.

Got a question you’d like to ask? Please post it below, and we’ll put a selection to Justin via Zoom. You’ll be able to watch the chat live - we’ll share a link to register next week - but we’ll also be recording so you can catch up if you can’t make it. We won’t be able to take questions during the chat so please do make sure you post on the thread if there’s something you’d like to ask.

As ever, one question per user please and keep it civil. We’ll be tight on time, so do keep questions short and sharp so we can get through as many as possible - as always, we'll try to make sure we cover the issues that we know are important to Mumsnet users.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Hi Justin,

Do we really need an 18 month long review to tell us what’s wrong with the parental leave system? Couldn’t the govt get on with solving some of the most obvious problems - for example, our rubbish paternity leave entitlement - more quickly?

Why do you think take up of shared parental leave has been so low?

Can you please make it be possible to apply to all jobs as part time positions unless there is an actual valid reason that they can't be done part time. I am specifically thinking about research positions in universities.

How can we ensure more men take shared parental leave (solo, not parallel with the mother)? Perhaps a “use it or lose it” period of leave for men?

I believe both parents having a period of sole care would do a lot towards redressing the current inequalities between mothers and fathers.

I really support improving statutory maternity and paternity pay but it's going to be expensive for the government and we're constantly being told there's no money to spend. Is having a Review (which will surely conclude that we do need to improve statutory pay) just a way of pushing back difficult spending decisions?

Hi and thanks for taking our questions. I have a concern that will no doubt be familiar to many parents, mothers in particular. Flexible working is still SO hard to get in practice, even though it’s a legal right to request it. Will the government consider making flexible working the default rather than something employees have to push for?

In all honesty, parental leave is only part of the story. Once you're through that first year, then what? You're facing a workplace that wants you to pretend you don't have a child and huge nursery bills on top, that's if you even find a place. What’s the plan for improving affordable childcare so parents can actually go back to work and making workplaces less hostile to mothers?

Would you support introducing ring-fenced and well-paid paternity leave like they have in some Nordic countries? My sister lives in one of those places, and it’s night and day compared to the UK and what we have to endure. Dads actually get time off to properly bond and help out, instead of just a few days that barely make a difference. It’d be great to see something like that here.

Great you're having this discussion. I'd really like to know how they plan to make any changes fair to single parents. The talk of non-transferable paternity leave is great for people in couples, but what about solo parents? Will they be allowed to transfer the 'paternity' leave to themselves? If not there's surely a risk that you increase inequalities between single parent families and coupled families.

Hi Justin
I’ve recently taken advantage of the new flexible working policy, doing a compressed fortnights, and I love it term time.
School holidays with an adopted 11 year old (with adhd and attachment issues) are still really difficult to cover though, with the few options for holiday clubs are £200 plus per week. Is there anything the govt could do to extend affordable holiday clubs options for older kids please?
Also the adoption support fund has recently been slashed by 40%, with devastating consequences for our family since therapy sessions have reduced, lying and stealing are out of control. What more will the government do to redress the inequality that adoptive families face? (High incidence of adopted children within the criminal justice system, so this funding cut feels like such a false economy)

Given the vital role kinship carers play in providing stability for vulnerable children—often stepping in at short notice—will the Minister commit to ensuring that kinship carers and special guardians are included in statutory parental leave and pay entitlements, as part of the upcoming parental leave reforms?

Statutory maternity pay is lower than the living wage - a situation that pushes new mums into debt and poverty. What do you plan to do to change this? Is the Government going to increase statutory maternity pay?

Have you spoken to Kinship carers as part of this review? If not why not.

Hi please can you confirm that kinship carers will be given the same entitled paid leave as adoption parents as I currently had to take care of my nephew from 3 days old i was given no choice but to be signed off work with stress and exhaustion and now facing losing my job as not able to return to work as he is only 3 months old would like to be able to meet his needs like any new parent and then when able to go to nursery return to work rather than being penalised for trying to do the right thing for my nephew and keep him out of the care system.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your questions so far. If you'd like to register to watch live, you can do so here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Kinship carers often sacrifice their jobs and financial security to care for family members’ children, playing a critical role in the care system and perform parenting roles under immense pressure.

What will the Minister do to ensure they are given the same support and equal rights as adoptive or birth parents through access to leave and pay?

Has the minister met with kinship carers?
and what will the Minister do to ensure that kinship carers are given the same support and equal rights as adoptive or birth parents through access to leave and pay?

Ha - in a recent job interview, I asked about the company’s maternity leave offering, not because I’m about to get pregnant on day one of the job and go on leave, but just because I’m planning to grow my family in the next few years and wanted to understand what support might be available as we honestly couldn't manage on just statutory. Sad to say the question was initially met with barely concealed startled looks, and to be honest, it felt like a bit of a death knell for any chance of getting the job (still waiting to hear back...) Do you think employers should have be more transparent about their support for pregnant employees, so people can make informed decisions without feeling like they’re asking something awkward or risky? I know it's a big leap given than most of them don't even publish the SALARIES (do not get me started on this, it gives me the rage.)

Hi,

Has any consideration for Kinship Carers been put in this review to speak with us and gather opinions and information? Too long have we been forgotten in the parental leave process.

Parental leave in the UK currently provides up to 18 weeks per child, which many families, including mine, find insufficient to manage the ongoing challenges around childcare—particularly in the early years. While some employers offer extended policies, these are often discretionary, and my own additional requests have been declined as I avail of the government parental leave. Has the government considered extending statutory parental leave, or introducing more flexible arrangements—such as allowing a partner to transfer parental leave and allowing leave to be taken in multiple blocks across the year—to better support working parents? Thanks.

There seems to be a good appetite for change, but is there a timeframe for when the review will conclude and then when any recomendations would come into force?

Is it possible it just gets kicked into the long grass? Thank you

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your questions - you can watch a recording of this morning's interview here.

Thanks,
MNHQ

Because it is confusing, not well known and if women have enhanced leave it often isn't worth it.