Do working Mums have different rights to their colleagues without children?

[babypowder]

Hello!

I ask this because I am having a hellish time getting my work to appreciate a) I now have a small child to care for b) I am still breast feeding, partially because my LO has a milk intolerance so I have been advised the longer I breast feed the better.

My manager keeps making the same comment over and over, "I can't be seen to be favouring you over people without children" when we're talking about absence through illness and flexible working hours.

Thank you! x

 

[xxembobxx]

Employers are not supposed to discourage breast feeding although I don't think there's anything they have to specifically do to assist.
People with dependents are entitled to reasonable time off to care for those dependents. Check out this link:
https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_10026555

While you obviously have more issues with your child I think most new parents find they take a lot of time off in the first few years as kids pick up so many bugs, especially when they mix with other children at nursery so you're hardly unique

 

[xxembobxx]

More specifically parents DO have a statutory right to absence to care for children:
https://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdo...0898061&r.l3=1080898069&r.s=sc&type=RESOURCES

As regards flexible working hours employers have to seriously consider it for parents. They can refuse on the grounds it is not in business interests but they should give you a written response to your request.
Perhaps give ACAS a call, if oyu get a good advisor they can tell you exactly what you are entitled to as a parent at work.

 

[babypowder]

Thank you so much. I am the second person in our work place to have a small child in ten years, many of my colleagues are older than I am so have grown up children. My colleague with a small child adopted her child a year ago and when she returned to work, as we didn't have an HR department in place, she was offered a choice of jobs (basically tailor made her job), was given a rise and was asked what hours she wanted to work.

Now we have an HR department I have been treated as a guinea pig effectively, had to battle for my flexible working request to be taken seriously, am going back into a very stressful job and am being made to feel like any time I take off for my LO being ill will be frowned upon.

Doesn't really inspire me to stay there! x

 

[melissasbump]

They HAVE to agree your flexible working unless they can privide you with written notice otherwise and there are 6 areas they can refuse it cant remember them all but one is if if its not in the business interests of the company, another being if its not in the developmental interests of you, and a few others but basically they need a blooming good reason to refuse you! Im having a bit of an issue at the mo so we have researched employment law etc.
If you have a child under 6 you have a hell of a lot of rights so dont let yourself get walked over hun xx

 

[babyblog]

Yo should be treated with more flexibility , as your lifestyle demands it.Parents with children under 18 are entitled to time off of work for reasons such as illness, although this may be unpaid.And yes you have the right to ask for flexible working patterns although they can refuse your request.