Working parents: the rights your managers need to know
What is it?
Working parents have several statutory rights designed to help them balance work and family. The main ones are:
1️⃣ Flexible working. Employees can ask from day one, make up to two requests in any 12 months and must get a decision within two months. You must consult before refusing and can only refuse for one of eight business reasons.
2️⃣ Unpaid parental leave. Since 6 April 2026 this is a day one right. Each parent can take up to 18 weeks per child before the child turns 18, normally in whole weeks and no more than four weeks per child each year, with at least 21 days' notice. You can postpone it by up to six months if it would cause problems at work, but you can't refuse it.
3️⃣ Time off for dependants. A day one right to reasonable unpaid time off for genuine emergencies, such as a child falling ill or a school closing unexpectedly. It's usually a day or two and doesn't cover planned things like school holidays.
4️⃣ Neonatal care leave. Up to 12 weeks' leave, from day one, where a baby goes into neonatal care within 28 days of birth and stays for at least seven full days in a row. Statutory pay needs 26 weeks' service and average earnings of at least £129 a week.
What does it mean for you?
Getting this right affects who stays. TUC polling published on 1 June 2026 found a third of parents with children under seven have left a job because of a lack of flexible working, and 73% are more likely to apply for a role that advertises it.
The bar is going up too. The government confirmed on 15 September 2026 that from autumn 2027, you'll only be able to refuse a request where it's reasonable, and you'll have to follow a set process, including meeting the employee first.
✅ Update policies for the April 2026 day one parental and paternity leave rights
✅ Train managers to consult properly, look at alternatives and record their reasons
✅ Start preparing now for the autumn 2027 changes
How Lansbury HR can help
We can review your family leave and flexible working policies, give your managers a clear process for handling requests and help you prepare for 2027. Get in touch.
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