Measures could increase diversity in workplace

WHEN asked about how much difference the recent changes in childcare provision would bring, I was keen to answer, not only as an employment lawyer, but also as a working mother who has been personally affected by the fact that the UK has some of the highest childcare costs in the world.

Since the start of this month, working individuals who earn more than £8,670 and less than £100,000 a year adjusted net income, are now entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare a week, if their child is two or turned two before April 1, 2024.

This marks the first stage of the policy which the Government has broken up, to ensure there are enough nursery workers in place to meet the increased demand and so far, 195,355 children have benefitted from the new arrangements.

In the second phase, beginning in September 2024, children aged from nine months will also benefit from 15 free hours. And the final stage of the policy rollout will see all children aged nine months and over eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

These arrangements have been designed to help parents manage their careers and childcare more easily, saving parents childcare costs in the process.

But will the measures have the desired effect?

When my children were young, over 10 years ago, there was no government support in place to fund childcare.

Our household was a privileged one with two adults on good salaries, but even with me working only part-time as a lawyer, it was questionable whether it was worth me working at all, versus the cost of childcare.

Most of the other mums I knew either didn’t work – so they could look after the children (and couldn’t afford the cost of childcare), or heavily relied on grandparents to support. Most of the dads worked full-time. Even though more dads are working part-time now to care for their children, the effect of Covid meant that the rights of working mothers were further denigrated. At the time, I wrote about the evidence that demonstrated more women than men lost their jobs because of the pandemic.

It was difficult to know why this was, albeit that a non-diverse government certainly impacted decision-making. From my perspective, it was questionable as to why pubs remained open when schools were shut.

At Han Law, we saw an increase in claims of sex discrimination being brought by women at this time, where women’s hours were cut or they were made redundant on the basis that they were trying to homeschool, whilst working. The new funding should help more women to continue working and to further their careers, if they want to, when their children are young. There are others who may consider that it is unfair to individuals who choose not to be parents in modern times, to have to fund those that do. However, if the measures increase diversity in the workplace, this will have a positive impact on the UK economy and will foster economic growth and productivity, therefore positively impacting everyone.

‘The new funding should help more women to continue working and to further their careers, if they want to, when their children are young.’