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6 weeks unpaid overtime a
year for 1 in 6 working parents in the North West
15% working parents in the North West
works at least 6 weeks a year in unpaid overtime and many miss out on precious
family moments like attending school shows or simply putting their children to
bed because of work commitments.
Working Families, the UK's leading work life balance organisation, have been
encouraging parents and their employers to take part in 'Go Home On Time Day',
that took place on 5 October 2016, to help people improve their work life balance.
Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, said:- "Sadly the
notion of presenteeism persists in many businesses in the North West with many
working parents feeling pressure to work extra unpaid hours.
Families need time as well as money to thrive. Flexible working patterns can
give parents the balance they need between work and family life, and deliver
motivated, productive employees for businesses. But this only works if jobs are
designed properly; and can be done in the hours allocated to them.
We're encouraging all employers and employees to use Go Home On Time Day as an
opportunity to think how they can improve work life balance and get the best for
families and businesses in the North West."
Working Families hopes businesses and employers, including the public sector and
Government, will use its 'happy to talk flexible working' strapline in
recruitment processes to demonstrate commitment to flexible and family friendly
ways of working.
A survey for the charity showed 49% of working parents in the North West put
extra unpaid hours each week. Of those, 15% worked more than 5 extra unpaid
hours a week, equating to 31 extra days a year; more than most people's annual
leave entitlement.
The survey also revealed:-
► 64% of working parents in the North West said their job interfered with their
ability to take part in school or nursery milestones for their children, such as
attending performances or parents' evenings.
► A total of 63% said work detrimentally affected the time they had to help
children with homework
► 57% said it interfered with their ability to put their children to bed. 27% said
this happened more than 3 times a week.
Working Families is the UK's leading work life balance organisation. It offers a
free Legal Helpline to parents and carers, researches and campaigns for better
work life policies and works directly with employers to help them improve ways
of working. For more information visit:-
WorkingFamilies.Org.UK.
Go Home On Time Day is part of the charity's campaign week, National Work Life
Week.
Follow Working Families on Twitter @WorkingFamUK with the campaign hashtag #TimeToRebalance
and on Facebook. What are your views on this issue? Do you agree? Email your
views and thoughts to us at:-
News24@southportReporter.com and let the world
know!
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