From 1 October 2014, fathers and partners of pregnant women have the legal right to have time off for antenatal appointments - but do they want it?

Updates to the Children and Families Act 2014 are unpopular with both employees and employers according to one leading employment law firm.

Two new changes to the Children and Families Act 2014 come into effect this year to make working around an expected newborn and a newborn more flexible for parents. The first change coming into effect on 1 October 2014, allows fathers and partners the legal right to have time off for antenatal appointments. However, according to leading employment law firm, 45% of partners will not be taking the time off.

 The reason for this negative view of the change is down to the fact that time off is unpaid, is for a maximum of two appointments, with a maximum time for each appointment of 6.5 hours. That means that an employee on an average wage will lose out on £130 in total for two days absence.

 The research conducted by Protecting.co.uk found that 35% of the women interviewed (1810 surveyed) explained that they would rather have the extra cash to spend on baby clothes and all of the other items needed for a newborn.

 Flora Smith, client manager at Protecting, said of the changes “Parents are understandably unhappy with the change to the act. The government is not doing enough to support prospective parents on a tight salary. On the surface it appears to be a positive change but as it is unpaid time off it just affects the majority of people on a tight income who simply cannot afford to lose two days worth of wages when a baby in on the way.”

The second change the act brings is to the Extension of Right to Request Flexible Working. The right to request flexible working was extended to all employees from 30 June 2014 - not just those caring for a child or dependant adult.

“Again,” says Miss Smith, “people are just not impressed by the changes. Employers know that it is difficult working from home with a newborn. Staff are not set up appropriately to work from home and it carries a number of risks such as lone working which many employers do not even consider.”

The changes to the act come at an unwelcome time with the cost of living on the rise and low paid salaries common and wide-spread.

“The government need to rethink their strategy and make real changes which will benefit parents and not simply appease them into thinking they are gaining something when in reality they are losing out” said Miss Smith of Protecting.co.uk.