Struggling Parents Penalised Say TUC

Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that two out of five of young parents in low-paid jobs felt penalised if they asked for flexible work arrangements. A survey of 1,000 parents has suggested that asking to work flexibly often led them to be given fewer hours, while some even lost their jobs. A further 47% said they struggled to balance work with parenting, despite legal changes in the past decade intending to make it easier for parents to spend time with their children. TUC figures have also shown that more than half of the people working in low-paid sectors, such as retail, hospitality and social care, were not aware of their employment rights and parental leave arrangements. A government spokesperson responded by stating that firms must have a legitimate reason for refusing flexible working arrangements.