Real - honest - family values
Guardian Unlimited Politics | Special Reports | Britain's family revolution
You hear a lot - especially from the self-righteous politicians who wear their religions on their sleeves - about "family values."
But you never see them suggesting that such values might start with reform in the work place. Want to see where our family values have gone - they have gone into it becoming the norm for both husband and wife to work full-time and then some.
Britain is reversing this trend - not by forcing women back in front of the stove - but by taking actions in regard to the workplace that gives young people of both sexes more time to apply to their families. And it seems to be repaidly changing attitudes.
The ICM survey shows that there is strong sympathy among a clear majority of the public for young families trying to balance their responsibilities - 61% say they spend too much time at work.
The ICM survey also shows that this social revolution has taken place rapidly with the government's reforms introduced into the workplace only in the last 18 months. The poll shows that a surprisingly large section of the public - 70% - is familiar with the more "family friendly" package which gives employees the right to request flexible working hours, and offers better paid maternity leave and two weeks' paid paternity leave for fathers.
It shows that the changes have proved popular, with 58% saying the government has "got it about right" and indeed there is a fairly strong appetite for ministers to go further, with 18% saying the changes so far are "too mean".
The thirst for further reform is strongest among those in their 20s and 30s and weakest among the over-65s. When asked what the government's priorities for further change should be, they overwhelmingly opted to give new fathers a chance to take a greater role in bringing up their children.
Tony Blair has already said he wants to extend the more "family friendly" work hours to those caring for elderly relatives.
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Here's where Bush et al have a lot to lear4n from Blair.
Posted by Greg Stone at August 17, 2004 12:27 PM
