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Two in five low-paid parents badly treated by bosses
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More than two in five (42%) low-paid parents have reported getting fewer hours, worse shifts and in some cases losing their jobs after asking for family-friendly working patterns, according to
a report from the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Almost half (47%) also reported that they are struggling to manage work and childcare.
The TUC surveyed more than 1,000 low-paid parents as part of its campaign for better jobs for mums and dads. The TUC is calling for all workers to have the right to be notified of their shifts one month in advance. That will mean working parents can plan childcare commitments and do their jobs.
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The TUC is also campaigning for all working parents—including zero-hours contracts workers, agency workers and those in casual work—to have the same parents’ rights, from day one in their jobs. Currently these rights are only available to workers with ‘employee’ status, meaning 1.5 million workers won’t have access to these rights if they become parents.Many low-paid parents reported feeling at the mercy of indifferent employers who can change their working hours on a whim. Other findings include:- more than half (58%) of parents working in low-paid sectors like retail, hospitality and social care said that they didn’t know what rights at work they were entitled to;
- nearly two thirds (63%) weren’t aware of their right to unpaid parental leave; and
- 49% weren’t using one or more of their legal rights to time off.
