Parents and employers are invited to share their experiences of new family-friendly legislation after a post-implementation survey suggested the changes were “not sufficiently communicated” to islanders.
A scrutiny sub-panel has been set up to assess how changes to the Employment Law made in 2018 and 2020 have been implemented, and what the impact has been on local
families.
The panel of politicians will also assess how the legislation compares to other equivalent jurisdictions, the impact it is having on families and employers in Jersey, and the adequacy of the changes.
It comes after the States Assembly approved a number of amendments to the Employment Law in 2018 following a review by the Employment Forum.
These changes included increasing the length of paid parental leave for both parents, introducing the right for parents to attend at antenatal appointments, introducing the right to request breastfeeding breaks and requiring employers to take reasonable steps to provide breastfeeding facilities, and introducing paid absence for pregnant or breastfeeding islanders who are unable to work on health and safety grounds.
Last year, a survey was carried out by the Social Security Minister to review how these amendments had been received by employers and employees.
Following the results, the Minister concluded that a number of actions were needed including increasing awareness of the changes, and to further look at the rules regarding parental allowance.
The new sub-panel, which will report to the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel, will investigate the progress of those actions and assess the effectiveness of the post-implementation survey.
The panel includes Deputy Louise Doublet, Deputy Lucy Stephenson, Deputy Kristina Moore, Deputy Beatriz Porée and Deputy Karen Wilson.
Deputy Louise Doublet, who will chair the sub-panel, said: “The amendments that the Assembly agreed to introduce in 2018 and 2020 were, at the time, seen as a progressive and positive step forward in making the Employment Law more family-friendly.
“But the post-implementation survey suggests the changes were not sufficiently communicated to both parents and employers.”
She added: “We, as a Panel, want to ensure the current legislation and policy is sufficient to provide children with the best start in life, and that the Minister has addressed the concerns raised in that post-implementation survey.”
HAVE YOUR SAY…
The Family Friendly Post-Implementation Sub-Panel is keen to hear from families and employers regarding their experiences of the updated family friendly legislation.
Panel members also want to speak to organisations which support families locally, or that have helped businesses to understand and enact the changes.
Islanders who wish to share their views can make submission via email at scrutiny@gov.je or by writing to the Family Friendly Post-Implementation Sub-Panel at Morier House, Halkett Place, St Helier, JE1 1DD.
You can read the more about the review online.