The Industrial Society says the Government should ‘take a stronger lead in tackling the cultural change employers experience when implementing flexible working practices and new parenting rights.’

Theo Blackwell, policy specialist at IS says: “We would support proposals for paid paternity leave at an equal rate to statutory maternity pay (SMP), paid parental leave and the right to have flexible working hours considered for employees."

IS believes employees should have the right to request a change of terms in their contracts regarding flexible working, for personal reasons. The employer would however be entitled to reject the request for a valid reason.

Blackwell says: "The Industrial Society firmly supports flexible working. Properly conceived, we believe this approach presents a ‘win-win’ scenario for employers and employees alike."
He believes the Government’s proposals in the Green Paper will lead to improvements for working parents but says the DTI needs to show real leadership in making flexibility work in practice in UK workplaces.

“Without progress in this area, compared to the opportunities offered in other European Union member states, UK employees will remain like ghosts at the feast," he says.

Although the IS supports the proposal to give fathers paid paternity leave, the society believes higher earning men need a bigger incentive to take such leave. The IS report Mothers Versus Men says ‘targeting high-earner men is the only way to shift working cultures. There is little hope of attitudes changing if the men dictating workplace cultures are not taking time off.’

To improve this situation, IS called for a 90% earnings related wage replacement last year. This would be for six weeks, on the grounds that such a measure would have a more immediate cultural impact within organisations.

Jessica Jarlvi

www.indsoc.co.uk