Strictures of family-friendly legislation found to impose significant strain on employers, according to survey findings
Jersey's Scrutiny panel, chaired by Deputy Louise Doublet, is currently reviewing existing family-friendly legislation to assess its practicality, affordability, and fairness. The panel is particularly focusing on the laws introduced in 2018 and 2020, aiming to understand how they have worked in practice and comparing Jersey's stance internationally.
The review comes amidst growing concerns from businesses, with the Chamber of Commerce launching a new survey that polled 45 local businesses. The survey results showed that family-friendly policies are placing a heavy burden on employers, particularly smaller firms.
Lee Madden, the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, expressed his concerns, stating that 71% of businesses reported increased costs, primarily linked to paid parental leave and administration. Moreover, 62% of businesses needed to restructure staffing or operations to cover parental leave, and 67% found workload management during staff absences more challenging.
The survey particularly highlighted concerns for small and medium-sized businesses, with 40% of respondents reporting administrative or scheduling challenges due to a rise in flexible working requests. However, 18% of survey participants said the amendments had no significant impact on their operations.
The Best Start Partnership, a coalition of early-years organizations, has urged the Government to strengthen support for parents during the first 1,001 days of a child's life. The Partnership proposes extending parental leave by at least a year and introducing new protections such as those for breastfeeding.
Social Security Minister Lyndsay Feltham has pledged to carefully consider the findings of the Scrutiny panel when published. Sir Geoffrey Rowland, the name of the chairman of the committee, leads the review, also examining whether more change is needed.
The Best Start Partnership's suggestions for strengthening support for parents have not been implemented yet. However, it is worth noting that the panel's review of existing legislation is ongoing, and the Government will carefully consider the panel's findings to ensure a balanced approach that supports both businesses and families.
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