Bright Horizons UK’s Post

🔎 Analysis: The government insists the phased 15 and 30-hour expansion of free nursery provision is on track, but opposition says the policy is in chaos. The political imperative for the change arises from the practical problem that new parents will not need any reminding of — the prohibitive cost of childcare means it is often not worth going back to work. Many parents, often women, therefore drop out of the workforce. With economic inactivity emerging as one of the key drags on Britain’s economy, and therefore the Conservatives’ election hopes, getting more people back to work is seen as crucial. But what will Labour do?

Insightful read, as we enter 2024. Highlighting some key changes to families, from funding changes to new family friendly regulation.

This is personal...and this post has a Call To Action... 1 in 4 mothers should not be pushed out of the workforce due to lack of affordable and accessible childcare. Whilst an additional 1 in 4 are reducing their hours when they don't want to! 👶🏼 I've been here... 👧🏼 I've watched it around me... 🧒 I've fought against it... 👩🏼 I now call it! Parents should be able to choose their path. If that's a career and having children, then there should be choices in childcare that are within the realms of possibility. Choices that allow those valuable voices around the table. Voices that are enablers to grow businesses and profit, with purpose and passion. Importantly, what about allowing those children the opportunity to experience that parent working, with all the trials, tribulations and learnings that brings them too. UK friends - Please consider signing the open letter! This shouldn't be an issue in this nation, others do it well (and granted we all know some do it far worse!).. But surely we can BE better at this - we should strive for that! The care system should not be seen as a societal cost but as a critical investment. Coincidentally #UNWOMEN posted that of the 133 speakers at the United Nations General Assembly #UNGA ONLY 9 are women!!! I appreciate there are many variables to this figure reported, but when we read the below, do we really wonder why...? 📝 OH... and by the way... if you're wondering... I am all FOR right person, right job... but I'm pretty sure that 9 out of 133 doesn't fulfil that.. and if many of the population can't even get to the interview, take the train, get on the plane - what's to be done! #thecareeconomy is the engine room of society. The End.

We've released the first edition of our 2024 Legislative Agenda, matching our positions with key bills. Our top priorities are ones that impact the state’s talent pipeline, the ongoing greatest challenge for employers: House Bills 1001 and 1243 (enhancing work-based learning opportunities), Senate Bill 1 (improving reading proficiency among young Hoosiers), Senate Bill 2 (expanding efforts for more affordable and accessible childcare) and Senate Bill 8 (removing barriers to postsecondary attainment). View at https://lnkd.in/ggaSra5E. #inlegis #indiana

Care is an investment, not a cost. And our groundbreaking new research shows that. Right now, countless women are being held back from the workforce due to a lack of support around their caring responsibilities. 1 in 4 mothers is being pushed out of the workforce due to a lack of affordable, accessible childcare. Whilst an additional 1 in 4 mothers is reducing their working hours unwillingly. The care economy is shaping our workforce, yet it’s often overlooked. It’s time to: 🧸 Recognise the value of care work and the rights of care recipients and caregivers 🪀 Reduce labour- intensive indirect unpaid care work by improving access to physical infrastructure 🧸 Redistribute unpaid care work between households, and the state, businesses and community, and between genders 🪀 Reward paid care workers with fairer legislation and policies, protection of vulnerable workers, and enhanced career development opportunities Today, we ask you to show the UK you care. Add your name to our open letter and call for change: https://lnkd.in/enh9pWqw

Excellent report from UN Women UK, which is essential reading for government and business leaders. We must push for change so that we invest in care and recognise the incredible contribution women can make if they are liberated by increased support! I have signed the open letter- will you?

Our #PublishParentalLeave campaign started in 2019 because of concerns from Mumsnet users that asking about maternity leave policies at interview would jeopardise their chances of employment. We think it's baffling that so many employers are so secretive about this vital info. As well as calling for a change in the law to oblige publication, we're asking employers to act voluntarily, and Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts CBE has written to every Council Leader in England, Scotland and Wales, asking them to publish their policies if they don't already. We've had a brilliant response so far. Thanks to Luton Borough Council, Oxford City Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Argyll and Bute Council, The City of Edinburgh Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Inverclyde Council and Scottish Borders Council who have all been in touch to let us know they already publish this info 👏 We're also delighted that Bromsgrove District Council, Dover District Council, London Borough of Hounslow, Crawley Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, Redditch Borough Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Southampton City Council, Torbay Council and Leicester City Council have all published or pledged to publish as a direct result of our campaign 🎉 Publishing parental leave is a cost-free change that encourages a race to the top for employers, helps tackle the #GenderPayGap and allows applicants to make informed plans about their futures. We think every Council in the country should do it and we'll continue to share the responses we receive 📨

This is why it’s f*cking hard work being a working mother in the UK. UK Government: “We’ve got this slight issue of a declining birth rate so we would really reallly like it if you all keep having children. We’re also going to need you to keep working as well after you’ve had the children, as that realllllly helps the economy. But we’re going to need you to spend most, if not all, of that salary you’re earning on getting people to look after your kids whilst you go out and work. But that’s if you can even get a place after the mess we’ve made of that sector! Another thing, please make sure you’re earning the exact right amount - not too much or we’ll take financial support away, and not too little or we’ll also take that support away. We’re really also going to put pressure on employers to get you all back to the office because we think that will make you more productive. So maybe more costs for you on childcare and less time with those children we’d like you to have, but you’ll definitely be more productive! Final point, the fact that your employers are allowed to pay you less than your male counterparts, that’s all ok with us too. All fairly straightforward. Any questions?” #womeninbusiness #genderequality #flexibleworking #womenintheUK

One of the reasons why I prefer to be a full-time freelancer (even if I earn less) is this. #MotherhoodPenalty is a real and demoralising thing in the UK. This month, as I was interviewing for different SEO roles, I declined 4 out of 5 interviews because the 4 places did not want to give me any kind of flexibility, and then you wonder why the UK workforce is so uniform (read: not diverse) and apathetic towards mothers who want to work. Read this post by Abigail Morrish York. #womeninbusiness #genderequality #flexibleworking #womenintheUK #pregnantthenscrewed

Keeping you informed: ➡ The proportion of employees going to the office three or more days a week has risen to 43%, up from 37% last year, according to a CBRE survey. ➡ Hiring problems have increased across all sectors, according to the latest quarterly recruitment report from the British Chambers of Commerce. ➡ Mental health training for line managers is strongly linked to better business performance, and it could save companies millions of pounds in lost sick days every year, according to new research led by experts at the University of Nottingham. ➡ England will need 540,000 additional social care posts by 2040 if the workforce is to grow in line with the increase in the number of people over the age of 65 in the population, according to figures from Skills for Care. ➡ Holiday childcare costs in Britain have risen by 6% since last summer, with working parents now facing an average bill of £175 per child per week – over £1,000 for the six-week break – according to Coram Family and Childcare’s 19th annual Holiday Childcare Survey. ➡ Employment law reforms including a day one right to maternity pay, statutory sick pay and protection from unfair dismissal are among the 40 bills announced in the King’s speech. ➡ The BT Group has announced a new parental leave policy of up to 18 weeks on full pay plus eight weeks on half pay for any parent no matter how their family is made up. ➡ Around 2.8 million UK over 50s have returned to work after being previously retired, according to new research from Legal & General, but only 3% plan to or are considering returning to full-time work. View extended update in the comments. #HRnews #office #returners #recruitment #mentalhealth #workforce #socialcare #childcare #humanresources #diversityandinclusion #employment #parentalleave