Norfolk mum calling for paid parental leave to support new parents
The Bill spells out day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers
Paid support and help re-entering the workforce is need, to encourage more people to take time off to become parents- that's according to a mum who lives near Norwich.
It's after the Government announced that employees could be given the right to claim unpaid parental leave and get stronger protection from unfair dismissal, in a planned overhaul of workers' rights
"Really need to provide greater accessibility"
Rebecca Wright is also a local maternity rights campaigner from the group, 'Pregnant then Screwed':
"There's just not enough of an incentive, in this economy, to take time off work to have children, and then to possibly face a lack of flexibility returning to work and maybe discrimination in the workplace itself".
She says big changes are needed around paternity leave, as well:
"There's lots of fathers who want to play a crucial role in the up-bringing of their child or children in their very early years of life. That's great, but we really need to provide greater accessibility to that and change our mindset as a society to it, as well".
What's been announced?
Ministers have described the Employment Rights Bill as 'the biggest boost to pay and productivity in the workplace in a generation'.
There are 28 separate changes in the Bill, with most of them not expected to be implemented before the autumn of 2026.
Some measures, such as the right to "switch off" at the end of a working day, are not in the Bill but will be included in a so-called Next Steps document for further consideration and consultation.
Under the Bill, the existing two-year qualifying period for protections from unfair dismissal will be removed and workers will have the right from the first day in a job.
Ministers say this will benefit nine million workers who have been with their employer for less than two years.
There will be consultations on a new statutory period, with ministers promising employers a "lighter touch" process covering dismissals.
The Bill also spells out day one rights for paternity, parental and bereavement leave for millions of workers, while statutory sick pay will be paid from the first day of a worker being sick rather than having to wait until the fourth day.
Around 30,000 fathers or partners will be eligible for paternity leave, while an extra 1.5 million parents will have the right to unpaid leave from day one.
Flexible working will be made the default position "where practical", while large employers will be required to create action plans on addressing any gender pay gaps.
On the controversial issue of zero-hours contracts, employers will have to offer a guaranteed hours contract based on a 12-week reference period.
Workers on zero-hours contracts will also be entitled to a reasonable number of shifts and financial compensation if a shift is cancelled or cut short.
What's been said about this?
Unions warmly welcomed the measures as a "seismic shift" from the low pay, low productivity economy they accused the previous Conservative government of presiding over.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
"Our plan will give the world of work a much-needed upgrade, boosting pay and productivity.
"The best employers know that employees are more productive when they are happy at work. That is why it's vital to give employers the flexibility they need to grow whilst ending unscrupulous and unfair practices.
"This upgrade to our laws will ensure they are fit for modern life, raise living standards and provide opportunity and security for businesses, workers and communities across the country."
Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said:
"Despite a chorus of opposition and the fastest decline in confidence from business owners large and small on record, Labour are rushing this legislation through Parliament to appease their trade union paymasters, ignoring the inevitable negative economic impact on jobs and wages.
"This is a thinly veiled reward for the trade unions after they donated £28 million to Keir Starmer's Labour Party.
"We will look closely at the detail of what the Labour Party have set out. But businesses and the economy needs certainty not the threat of being sent back to the 1970s, unleashing waves of low threshold, zero warning strikes, driving down growth and slowing productivity."