A Day One right to ask for flexible working is a step in the right direction but does not go nearly far enough. We need progression of the Employment Bill with a legal obligation on employers to advertise jobs as flexible by default.
We propose the Flexible Working Taskforce develop job-sharing as a part of the flexible working menu in adapting to new ways of working after the pandemic. This would allow single parents to apply for a greater range of jobs at different levels of seniority and help to prevent occupational downgrading (getting a job below the job applicant’s skills and qualifications).
26th Nov 2021
Summary A Day One right to ask for flexible working is a step in the right direction but does not go nearly far enough. We need progression of the Employment Bill with a legal obligation on...
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10th Sep 2018
Summary The benefit cap is not fit for purpose for single parent families. The policy also does not fulfil government intentions for the welfare system or wider society. The benefit cap should be abandoned, given its failings....
Key findings The benefit cap is at odds with other parts of the welfare system, and fails to recognise single parents’ intent or ability to work – meaning they have little chance to escape the cap,...
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20th Aug 2018
Summary Over a million single parents will eventually need to migrate from legacy benefits (including tax credits) to Universal Credit. It is vital that this process minimises the financial risk to low income families – particularly...
Key findings The managed migration process proposed by draft regulations places too much risk of financial loss on claimants, rather than government. The DWP must do more to demonstrate that systems and processes are ready for...
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25th May 2018
Summary Gingerbread’s research shows that – contrary to government intentions – sanctions are not an effective tool to ensure either job-seeking behaviour among single parent claimants or effective public spending. The government must overhaul ‘conditionality’ (the rules setting...
Key findings Benefit sanctions do not fulfil the government’s intentions to change behaviour (thereby moving people into work), nor to ensure ‘fairness for the taxpayer’ Single parent benefit sanctions tend to arise due to one-off errors or...
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8th Feb 2018
Summary The government’s draft strategy has welcome proposals, but lacks strategic intent. There are signs that the Department for Work and Pensions is listening to concerns that Gingerbread has raised about loopholes which allow some parents...
Key findings Compliance The strategy ignores whether charges and the use of Direct Pay are really encouraging ‘collaboration’ and ‘compliance’ Further enforcement powers are welcome but, to achieve real impact, the DWP must ensure more rigorous use of...
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