Pregnant business woman working in office.

November 11, 2013, by Kelly Cookson

UK SMEs and business advisers on current maternity and paternity rights

The Haydn Green Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship runs two online UK business surveys: UK Business Barometer (UKBB) and UK Business Adviser Barometer (UKBAB). The results of the surveys are instantly processed and posted on their respective websites.

In the September 2013 survey, UK SMEs and business advisers were questioned about current maternity and paternity rights.

The responses from UK SMEs were as follows:

Do you feel that current maternity rights are fair and practical for SMEs?
Yes 28.6%
No 54.3%
Not sure 10%
Don’t know 7.1%

 

Do you feel that current paternity rights are fair and practical for SMEs?
Yes 21.4%
No 52.9%
Not sure 15.7%
Don’t know 10%

 

Is the prospect of supporting employees throughout maternity and paternity leave a concern to your business?
Yes 64.3%
No 18.6%
Not sure 2.9%
Not applicable 14.3%

 

Would you be wary of employing young women due to concerns about prospective maternity leave?
Very concerned 27.1%
Moderately concerned 25.7%
Slightly concerned 21.4%
Not concerned at all 17.1%
Not applicable 8.6%

 

Alasdair Stamps of BioPartner UK commented: “ Despite the argument that people might only have babies to get state support, I believe that properly managed maternity/paternity support by the state, with no involvement or obligation by private companies, aside from voluntary contributions by firms that can afford it, would actually cost the taxpayer less. No one is going to get rich on maternity/paternity support and the advantages in terms of maintaining opportunities for parents and growth prospects for SMEs far outweighs any perceived unfairness.”

UK business advisers were asked about their experience of maternity and paternity rights:

Do you feel that current maternity rights are fair and practical for SMEs?
Yes 25%
No 55.4%
Not sure 12%
Don’t know 7.6%

 

Do you feel that current paternity rights are fair and practical for SMEs?
Yes 17.4%
No 58.7%
Not sure 17.4%
Don’t know 6.5%

 

In your experience, are SMEs concerned by the prospect of supporting employees throughout maternity and paternity leave?
Yes 89.1%
No 3.3%
Not sure 4.3%
Don’t know 3.3%

 

In your experience, are SMEs wary of employing young women due to concerns about prospective maternity leave?
Very concerned 37%
Moderately concerned 35.9%
Slightly concerned 22.8%
Not concerned at all 1.1%
Don’t know 3.3%

 

Christopher Betson has a positive view: “It occurs to me that maternity rights have been a very effective recruitment campaign for ‘women returners’ into the small and micro business sector.”

More information about the UK Business Barometer (UKBB) and UK Business Adviser Barometer (UKBAB), including results and analyses, can be found on the web at www.ukbb.ac and www.ukbab.ac Businesses and advisers wishing to contribute as panellists on the project can register via the websites.

The UK Business Barometer has a group on LinkedIn and can be followed on Twitter @UKBB_UoN

More information is available from Kelly Cookson on 0115 846 6860, kelly.cookson@nottingham.ac.uk

Posted in Business BarometerSMEsUncategorized