Four weeks a year up for grabs with ‘granny leave’ proposal
Working grandparents could be granted time off to look after their grandchildren under plans proposed by the Labour party.
Launched as part of Labour’s women’s manifesto, the so-called "granny leave” proposal would mean grandparents could share up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave, or four weeks in any year, currently afforded to working parents or those with legal parental responsibility.
According to research from Working Families, nearly three in five grandparents already provide regular childcare.
National charity Grandparents Plus estimates that 1.9 million grandparents have given up a job, reduced their hours, or taken time off work, to look after their grandchildren, which in some cases has meant a loss in income.
Labour’s deputy leader, Harriet Harman, said the new policy on grandparents was “incredibly important,” to reflect the reality of family life.
“Instead of having to choose between retiring early and giving up work, or not being part of the daily care for their grandchildren, we’re saying let’s look at the leave arrangements to recognise what the pattern of family life,” she said.
“This is the next frontier. It’s the first time there has been a policy which recognises this role of grandparents.”
Labour’s proposal, which would be consulted should the party win power on 7 May, is one of a number of plans outlined in the women’s manifesto, which promises to tackle pay inequality, and provide greater support for childcare and parental leave.
Charities have long campaigned for parental leave rights to be extended to grandparents. In 2009, Grandparents Plus called on the government to give grandparents up to two weeks of "granny leave", to be taken at any point in the child's first year.
Commenting on the Labour party’s most recent proposal, Neil Carberry, CBI director for employment and skills, said: “Many grandparents play an important role in helping support working families, so these proposals to consider making existing leave entitlements more flexible will help them to balance that responsibility with their own careers.
“Businesses are looking forward to seeing the details of this policy and making sure it works for both family members and their respective employers.”