About half of low-paid young mums and dads are struggling to manage work and childcare. Businesses must have a legitimate reason to refuse flexible working yet two out of five low-paid young parents who ask for flexible work arrangements are "penalised" as a result, according to the TUC. They are given fewer hours, worse shifts and some have lost their jobs, its survey of 1,000 parents suggested.
The TUC survey found that more than half of those working in low-paid sectors, such as retail, hospitality and social care, did not know their employment rights, with many unaware of unpaid parental leave arrangements.
All the young parents the TUC spoke to had at least one child aged between 1 and 16, were themselves aged between 20 and 35, had household earnings of less than £28,000, and none found it very easy to organise childcare with their working hours.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Too many workplaces expect mums and dads to forget all about their kids as soon as they walk through the door. It's a nightmare to plan childcare when your boss changes your shifts at the drop of a hat, and you never work the same weekly hours twice. Many parents fear losing shifts, taking unpaid leave or being viewed badly at work if they need time off to look after their kids." She said it was "shocking" that some mums and dads were stopped from taking their children to hospital when they were sick.
The TUC survey found that more than half of those working in low-paid sectors, such as retail, hospitality and social care, did not know their employment rights, with many unaware of unpaid parental leave arrangements.
All the young parents the TUC spoke to had at least one child aged between 1 and 16, were themselves aged between 20 and 35, had household earnings of less than £28,000, and none found it very easy to organise childcare with their working hours.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Too many workplaces expect mums and dads to forget all about their kids as soon as they walk through the door. It's a nightmare to plan childcare when your boss changes your shifts at the drop of a hat, and you never work the same weekly hours twice. Many parents fear losing shifts, taking unpaid leave or being viewed badly at work if they need time off to look after their kids." She said it was "shocking" that some mums and dads were stopped from taking their children to hospital when they were sick.
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