FSB News Release

PR/2005/64

Issue date:  Wednesday 19 October 2005

Work and Families Bill will pose difficulties for smaller employers

The FSB has today warned the government that the changes announced in the Work and Families Bill will pose particular problems for the UK’s smaller employers.

The proposal to transfer an element of maternity leave from the mother to the father will now mean that two employers will have to make arrangements to cover for temporary leave, although the FSB acknowledges that the father will only be eligible for the leave when the mother returns to work.

The FSB welcomes the proposals for so-called keep-in-touch days and giving the employer two months notice before returning to work, rather than the current 28 days notice.

Alan Tyrrell, FSB Employment Chairman, said:

“It is a fact that 97% of businesses in the UK employ less than 20 people. Such employers will find it very difficult to put in place arrangements to hire suitably trained staff to take the place of employees who have children.

“We appreciate these measures are family-friendly, but they are not business friendly, partly because they are being introduced at some speed, leaving small employers with little time to cope with the changes.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors:

 The FSB is Britain's biggest business organisation with 190,000 members.  It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

FSB Chief Spokesman
Stephen Alambritis: 07788422155

FSB Press Office:
Simon Briault:  020 7592 8128/07917 628998