To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment his Department has made of barriers to (a) flexible working and (b) statutory parental leave provision in SMEs; and whether his Department plans to bring forward (i) legislative proposals and (ii) guidance to help tackle these barriers.
Answered on
1 July 2025
Guidance for businesses on supporting employee work-life balance through measures such as flexible working and parental leave can be found on gov.uk and the Help to Grow website.
We are also publishing an SME Strategy Paper later this year, which will result in positive and practical support for SMEs across the UK.
Paternity Leave and Parental Leave will become ‘day one’ rights through the Employment Rights Bill. We will continue to engage with business, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as these changes are implemented, and through the Government’s Review of the parental leave system.