stepping in to arrange emergency cover for an absent carer to ensure care and support needs continue to be met. Where a direct payment holder is aware that their regular carer will be unable to provide contracted care, they should make alternate arrangements or, failing this, make contact with their local authority and request that the authority meets their care needs. Therefore, the abolition of reimbursement of Statutory Sick Pay costs through the Percentage Threshold Scheme should not disproportionately disadvantage direct payment holders.” This response only focusses on those employing carers – the “accidental” employers and does not mention those very small employers who will be hit hard by this legislation. Nor does it seem to adequately address the needs of those who do employ a carer, and how they will cope if the carer is on long term sick. To help us understand how often Local Authorities will step in when a carer is on a long term sickness absence we have created a very quick survey aimed at Local Authorities. There are only three questions and whilst we appreciate that these questions are not directly payroll related, we would be very grateful if those working for a Local Authority could take just a couple of minutes to help give us a clearer picture. The survey will close on 7 May 2014. In the meantime we will continue to lobby for a consideration to be made for very small employers with employees off on long term sick leave, however so far there has been absolutely no movement from the government on this issue. We will keep you updated of any progress.
Call for statutory paternity pay and leave to be doubled
18 June 2014
Statutory paternity leave should be twice as long and paid at almost twice the present rate to encourage more fathers to spend time with newborns, a think-tank has said.
Under a blueprint drawn up by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), fathers would automatically qualify for four weeks' leave after the birth, paid at the minimum wage.
The IPPR said one of the main reasons only 55% presently took off the available fortnight was because they felt they could not afford the loss of pay.
Under existing rules they qualify for a statutory £138.18 a week, equivalent to £3.45 an hour for a 40-hour week, with employers encouraged to make up the gap in the employee's usual pay. Bringing the taxpayer-funded contribution up to minimum wage level would increase take-up to around 70%, the think-tank estimates, at a cost to the Treasury of around £150 million in 2015/16.It also called for the number of antenatal appointments fathers will be allowed paid time off to attend from October be doubled to four. "New parents need time away from work to care for their young children, and to strengthen their relationship with each other at what can be a hugely enjoyable but also very stressful time. "However, this is often difficult for fathers because they have limited entitlements to paid leave, and so they often assume the role of breadwinner while their partner is on maternity leave. Senior research fellow Kayte Lawton said:
CIPP Policy News Journal
08/04/2015, Page 477 of 521
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker