Maternity proposals "compromise businesses' ability to plan ahead"

Federation of Small Businesses national chairman Carol Undy made the following comments on the government proposals announced today (28/02/05):

On maternity leave: Flexibility in the labour market has been central to the success of the small business sector over the last ten years. The Governments proposals compromise businesses ability to plan ahead and cope with unpredictable demands.

All leave comes at a cost. Although the Government says that it will meet the direct costs of extending paid maternity leave, the employer will be left footing the bill for recruiting temporary cover.

The reality is that employers find administering maternity rights a headache. The government should pay Statutory Maternity Pay direct and ensure that mothers away on maternity leave update their employer on a monthly basis about if and when they expect to return to work.

On flexible working: Requests for flexible working get the hearing they deserve in a small firm where the owner-manager knows employees personally. But new rights to flexible working are coming thick and fast, without a proper assessment of their impact so far.

" It is vital that firms are allowed to turn down requests for flexible working when there are genuine business reasons.

(28/02/05)

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