Labour Manifesto for women - unpaid leave for grandparents

forgot to add link
www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32322677

another thought
if you have say grandchildren born in one year - where is the GPs leave to be allocated
bit unfair to those without GCs

1. It's quite quite clear it applies to grandparents not just grandmas
2. The proposal is to allow working parents and the grandparents to share out any existing allowance of unpaid parental leave that is allowed
3. The issue of who can afford to take unpaid leave will be for families to sort out between themselves
4. It is unfair to those without grandchildren in exactly the same way as the existing scheme for unpaid parental leave is unfair to people without children
What exactly are you about mollie? I would have thought any gps would welcome any flexibility introduced into child care that recognises their role?

But of course not any idea proposed by Labour which as we know must be inherently and intrinsically wrong

And btw the proposal in the manifesto is underpinned by a consultation exercises which clearly would include the issue of one gp having more than one gc in any one year.

GrannyTwice

Go GrannyTwice

G2 - that was a bit uncalled for
I was merely pointing out the inconsistencies and pitfalls that may have been ignored
would daughters/sons be keen on 4 weeks of grandparents involvement.
'But of course any idea proposed by Labour which as we know must be inherently and intrinsically right' according to you
am I not allowed to voice an opinion - this is as bad as mumsnet sometimes.

mumsnet thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2365179-Grandparents-leave-nice-idea-or-unwelcome-pressure-to-do-unpaid-childcare?
they seem to have grasped the problems with it even if some gransnetters haven't - they speak a lot of sense

Mollie being disingrnous won't wash with me. You posted 'really and just wanted to dis the idea . The comment about uncles, aunts etc was not vey helpful was it? Childcare is an important issue that affects many many families with children . This is a proposal for consultation that might help some families in some situations. I can think of some examples - child is really ill, mother could take a week off unpaid but the work situation is such that it would cause problems. So gp takes week off unpaid and daughter reimburses gp. It would be completely up to families if they wanted to use it - the total amount of leave would be the same. Anyone would think that families would be forced to use it! Are you saying that you don't want any proposals along these lines because the current arrangements are absolutely fine? And fyi I do not and never have assumed that all Labour proposals are fine. Most of them are nowhere near left wing enough for me. And what on earth do you mean ' not allowed to voice an opinion?'. You voiced an opinion, I critiqued it - perhaps you could tell me what I dhould have done? Oh yes, I get it, I should not have voiced an opinion -

"bit unfair to those without GCs"
Really, mollie? What do you call a grandparent without grandchildren? Obviously does not apply to them. I do not understand your point.

Free plaster on broken legs is unfair to those whose legs are not broken. Be careful what you . It may happen to you.

Elegran: like your reductio ad absurdum. Overheard on a train, three schoolgirls discussing fractures. One said that she'd like to break her arm because she'd never had it in plaster. Not sure she had factored in the pain element of broken bones!

What about the 'pain element ' to small businesses? There's more to staffing than just whether or not people are on paid or unpaid leave. Actually getting the job done whether its in an office, cafe, shop or wherever giving this 'right' is easy for politicians to talk about than for small businesses to actually sustain.

Jane10 has just said what I was going to say (but she has expressed it better).
Another stab in the back for industry - and it does affect those without gc as they are left to pick up the pieces at work.

I think small businesses are exempt from some things - gillybob could probably wax eloquent on the subject.

But it is not just small businesses - I worked with someone years ago who used to have most Mondays off (a 'duvet' day - or hangover). Then when she became pregnant she was off for a lot of the pregnancy unwell, then off on maternity leave (not so long in those days). When she returned she was often off or skiving off early. At the time I was coping with three children and an elderly mum as well as working.
I felt pressurised and beleagured but was expected to get on with it.
Then she became pregnant again.
After the 2nd baby arrived and her maternity leave ended she decided to throw in the towel and left and they replaced her. Thank goodness.

Sadly Elegran small businesses are not exempt from anything (I would be very happy to be corrected though) maternity,paternity,carers,adoption leave all applies as it does to huge corporations. At the risk of being accused of hypocrisy our small business would fold if even two people had leave at the same time. We are specialist engineers and for us it would be impossible to get a temp in and train them well enough to offer cover. On the other hand I am very fortunate to be able to look after my grandchildren for a couple of days during the week as I am able to make the hours up to suit. It is not unknown for DH and I to be working at midnight or all weekend (unpaid) playing catchup, something that an employee would probably not be keen on doing. As Jane10 says easy for politicians to talk about but not at all easy for small businesses to work around.

I can't see a solution really except for flexible breakfast and tea time clubs during term time and perhaps reasonably priced "childcare clubs" for older children during holidays. To be honest I cannot see how most parents can be expected to carry out a full time jobs without the support of other family members. Let's face it most people only have 4-5 weeks holiday from work per year and most jobs start at 8-9 am until 4-5 pm so hardly in line with school times.

rosequartz "Another stab in the back for industry". What are the other stabs in the back?

The government UK Trade & Investments site states:

"the UK has the second lowest labour costs per hour out of ten major locations."

(It is estimated that the number of workers earning the minimum wage has doubled over the last few years to 1 in 20. Additionally, zero hours contracts - which are also become more common - save employers even more money and deny workers basic employment rights that are available to permanent employees.)

The same site states that we are top of the table for "Flexibility of Labour Regulations" and that we have the lowest Corporation Tax out of France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.

Children are the responsibility of both parents and yet it is often women who are expected to work and to carry out the bulk of domestic duties. Grandparents are increasingly needed for childcare because the cost of childcare in this country is prohibitive for many workers on low and even average wages. If businesses need women workers - which they do - I don't think it is unreasonable for them to make some adjustments to the way they operate to take account of the fact that people have families.

Gillybob I have a small business with 8 employees and had 2 off on maternity leave at the same time which was a nightmare of juggling temps and other members of staff, as well as making sure that the other staff had their holidays too of course. While the Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) was reimbursed, the time off for ante-natal visits is not so this cost my business a lot of money in relative terms. Also, many people probably do not appreciate that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid by employers but is no longer re-imbursed, so if like me, you have a staff member off for 8 weeks after surgery, yet again I have to pay. Going slightly off subject perhaps, but before people start getting all enthusiastic or otherwise about yet more proposals for flexibility/time off/parental leave etc., do spare a thought for the small business who ends up picking up the bill, it is rarely the taxpayer.

millie65 I agree with you.

But do you not factor it into your prices, GillT?

No. Durhamjen customers can't be expected to cover these costs. Of course businesses could put their prices up but risk business being outsourced to much cheaper countries -China etc. Lose lose situation. Political talk is cheap!