Nursery World - Work-life measures are called toothless

Government plans to give mothers the right to transfer their maternity leave and pay to fathers lack 'teeth', a leading work-life balance campaign organisation said last week. Responding to the Department of Trade and Industry's Choice and Flexibility consultation, which closed last week, Working Families said it was disappointed that there were not enough proposals for fathers in their own right.

Responding to the Department of Trade and Industry's Choice and Flexibility consultation, which closed last week, Working Families said it was disappointed that there were not enough proposals for fathers in their own right.

It believes fathers should have their own legal rights, which are not dependent on the mother.

Chief executive Sarah Jackson said the document seemed to be 'based on the assumption that the mother should be the primary carer and the father the primary earner. Although this does reflect present reality for a majority of families, it is troubling if we are serious about enabling both parents to realise their full potential at home and at work; about tackling the gender pay gap; and about tackling poverty among older women.'

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