The government has announced its intention to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children under 18 from April 2011.
It will also consult later this year on extending the right to all employees, along with the design of a new system of flexible parental leave.
Currently employees with children aged 16 or under (18 if disabled) or someone who cares for an adult and who has worked for the same employer for 26 weeks can ask their employer to change their terms and conditions of service so they can care for that dependant.
Approximately 10.5 million employees are currently eligible under the right, which was introduced by Labour. The government says that an additional 288,000 employees could benefit from extending the right.
The Additional Paternity Leave regulations implemented in April this year will remain in force as an interim measure for encouraging shared parenting. They will apply to parents of children born on or after 3 April 2011.
Additional Paternity Leave will give employed fathers a right to up to six months extra leave which can be taken once the mother has returned to work.
Some of the leave may be paid if taken during the mother’s maternity pay period. This is paid at 90% of earnings up to the same standard rate as Statutory Maternity Pay which is currently £124.88 per week.
This new provision will be available during the second six months of the child’s life, giving parents more choice in child care responsibilities and the option of dividing a period of paid leave entitlement between them.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Unions have always negotiated good flexible arrangements with progressive employers but some businesses need a push. Experience shows the best way to achieve cultural change is to offer flexible working to all workers and the TUC will press for a universal right when the Government consults on this later in the year.”