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Employers urged to show flexibility to parents of premature or ill babies

Employers are being urged to offer support to workers who have premature or ill babies.
premature

Employers are being urged to offer support to workers who have premature or ill babies.

premature
Picture: iStock

The conciliation service Acas urged employers to be flexible in giving time off to parents so they can attend hospital appointments.

The new advice includes the need to ask parents what work colleagues should be told.

Acas chief executive Anne Sharp said: 'There are over 95,000 premature or sick babies born each year in the UK.

'For their families this is an emotional and difficult time.

Deserving support

'Working parents in these circumstances often find themselves trying to handle the demands of their job, caring for their new-born and looking after other family members.

'Our new advice helps explain the law within this complicated area in a way that will help employers support working parents while taking account of the needs of their business.'

Business undersecretary Margot James said: 'Working parents deserve support at work, and those who have premature babies should expect nothing less than total backing from their employers at what can be an exceptionally difficult and worrying time.

'Most employers already treat their staff with compassion and flexibility. This guidance removes any doubt for parents about what their rights are and lets employers know how best to provide support.'


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