It was good news for workers with young families this week, as Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt revealed new guidelines that give them the right to request more flexible working arrangements.
Previously, working parents have often been forced to juggle their family lives around their work commitments.
The idea of Britain as a culture "unfriendly to families" could be a thing of the past, as the new guidelines mean that all employers will now have to pay serious attention to requests for flexible working from parents with young families.
Employers will have to go through a formal process when considering such requests, and provide sound business reasons if they are rejected. If they fail to do so, the employee will have the right to take them to tribunal.
Around 3.8 million parents will be eligible to apply for the new working arrangements. They will only apply to parents with children under the age of six, or a disabled child up to age eighteen.
If you are an employer and wish to know more about how this move in legislation will affect your company, visit the DTI website.
learndirect can also help you improve your knowledge of workplace legislation. Our course, 'The Compliant Manager', takes you through the basics. It highlights your specific obligations and then recommends the use of good practices in order to comply. Click here to find out more about this course.
Please note - unfortunately this course does not cover the new working families' regulations.