The Times’ Post

As the UK reflects on the outcome and implications of the recent General Election, employers, working parents and carers alike are waiting and watching to see how a Labour Government will deliver on campaign promises. Join us on Tuesday 17th September, 2024 11:00 AM as we discuss some of those key manifesto promises and what has developed so far... Our panel will weigh up: 🔵 What are the implications for employers looking to provide effective and inclusive family policies? 🔵 What does this shift in Government mean in real terms for both employers and workers? 🔵 What do employers need to be aware of and prepared for in order to demonstrate best practice? 🔵 Will current practices remain competitive in attracting and retaining talent as legislation advances? Led by Jennifer Liston-Smith, Head of Thought leadership with Bright Horizons, and Ros Marshall OBE, UK MD for Bright Horizons (and member of the National Partnership in Early Learning and Childcare: NPELC). 👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/epgckztx #BrightHorizonsUK #EmployerOfChoice #WorkingParents

There are a number of factors that might prevent someone from playing a part in the labour market from long-term illness, caring responsibilities or just getting to work. Key ask three from our Manifesto: ‘Dynamic labour markets for growth’ explores how to ensure that everyone has access to opportunities and addresses the barriers that restrict people from entering the labour market. Within our manifesto we provide specific recommendations to the government which include: 💡To reform the #ApprenticeshipLevy. 💡Commit to funding local rail and bus links 💡Expand the eligibility for 30-hours childcare entitlement. 💡Consult on and publish plans to increase the childcare workforce. Explore the details of key ask three via the link below 👇 https://bit.ly/4997Crh #PowerOfRecruitment #RECManifesto #FutureOfWork

Employees are frequently forced to cut their work hours or forgo work entirely because of the high cost or lack of availability of good child care. Nearly three out of every five small businesses are in the process of hiring employees, either part-time or full-time – but 80% of them are having trouble recruiting qualified candidates for these jobs. Option 1: Govt policy discouraging the having of children so we can boost GDP cos childcare wont be needed soon. (Works for one generation only). Option 2: Immigration - (that won't work in Europe or US presently) Option 3: Few people who want to work in jobs, GDP and tax take down, cut social services and the budget Option 4: Tax the rich - always popular - if only there were more of them you could get your hands on. Esp if you could tax non-nationals, earning their money abroad, keeping it abroad, but tax it here. Option 5: Confiscate assets. Call it something nice like "one off windfall tax' Option 6: Remove retirement age - work till 100. (hmmmm) Option 7: Relax childcare rules eg 1 adult to 100 children, no safety checks. (Nope!). Option 8: Borrow money to start schooling from age 1. (Debt to GDP at 100% - won't fly) Option 9: Companies (bigger ones) provide it. Not enough big companies.

The costs and benefits of being a working parent from an economist! Childcare is getting some attention again as the Government is pledging a 10% wage increase from Dec 2024 and another 5% from Dec 2025 if providers agree to cap fee increases. This was already part of the discussion in the Budget and in the Fair Work Commission decide in June so isn't a huge surprise. It lines up with the wage increases given to aged care and healthcare workers and will help to support the much needed flow of workers into the childcare industry. On my calculations it will add 0.2ppt to wages growth over 2024-25 and just 0.1ppt to 2025-26 - not much at all in the big scheme of things. Follow the AMP economics team on instagram or TikTok for other relatable and interesting content about economics, markets, investing and life! https://lnkd.in/dxH9adz9 https://lnkd.in/dqY8BT6V

Few people know more about the cost of childcare and early education to professionals than an economist. And when that economist is AMP Deputy Chief Economist and mum-of-two Diana Mousina? Stick a fork in me because I am done! I love Diana’s fact-based take on this topic, combined with the authentic personal twist we’re all looking for in the content we consume on social media. For my working parent community, what does your cost/benefit equation look like when it comes to childcare? Check out the video below and join the conversation in the comments.

What if the biggest negative of being a full-time parent - in the way it was common for housewives in Western society in the golden era of the middle class - was not really the extra time on their hands leading to boredom and anxiety ... which was 'solved' - or substantially 'solved' - by both parents working ... was social isolation from lack of connection - including, or even mainly, with their life partner - which was then solved by parents working less rather than more? But how would that family afford the American/Australia/etc - the Western - dream of home ownership, cars and financial security? (No doubt the question many immediately asked.) Well leaving aside - for a moment - the reality that that dream has been lost for very many in Western society anyhow ... what if Nixon's attempt to institute a universal basic income in the US succeeded ... see https://lnkd.in/gtFbjMz8 and like most good ideas, it was broadly adopted throughout the West? From my experience of almost 2 decades of being a stay at home dad, I know that it's not just - or even mainly - the not being intellectually stimulated that leads to anxiety ... because, let's face it, there are plenty of accessible forms of intellectually stimulating material available at our fingertips these days ... and opportunities to share our own analysis and views and talk/debate (as I have consistently done, most recently at MacroEdgo.com). It is the lack of social contact that is most challenging to deal with and that includes with your family and life partner. I have much more energy and feel much more content when my family are nearby to me. Now I know plenty of working parents will say that they can feel like they spend too much time with family during a vacation - I've certainly heard that said - and each time I do I find it incredibly sad because ... it indicates that they have become conditioned to spending so little time together that they do not feel comfortable in each other's company for more extended periods. This is where I think the pandemic and periods of isolation in family groups were an important opportunity for Reset amongst families, and I think it is a shame so much focus was placed on working parents - especially mothers - struggling to help children with home learning ... Afterall, we are talking about largely professional adult parents who could easily carry out that task of assisting children in their learning... but for the requirements, and often over-reach, of their employers. If we can leave aside our complex emotions over this I think there is much we can all learn from each other ... and the benefits to society - for each of us - would be very significant.

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 

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

With my partner currently on maternity leave it made me think about how fortunate we are but also how the system is failing so many parents in the UK. The UK minimum Wage (National Living wage) is £11.44 with the real living wage an estimated £12 outside of London and £13.15 inside London. Based on the UK average of 36 hours per week this equates to; UK minimum wage per week: £411.84 Real living per week (Outside London): £432 Real living per week (in London): £473.40 SMP is £172.48 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (WHICHEVER IS LOWER) If the UK government believes that the cost of living per week for 1 person is in fact £411.84 how can it be justified that SMP is only 41.8% of this? Does this mean a family of 2 can magically afford to live for less? Does this force mothers to return to work sooner than they would like? With an average weekly nursery cost in the UK of £275 or £1106.52 a month is returning to work actually affordable? The average UK salary is £33k or £2154 per month or £497 per week this means childcare typically equates to 51% of your monthly earnings this doesn’t consider rent or a mortgage, utility costs, and food. This leaves mothers in the position where they are forced to reduce hours or stop working altogether. How can this be right? I of course don’t have the answers on how to solve this but there is something very wrong. #maternity #maternityleave #smp #childcare #hr #people

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