The party announced the move as part of its ‘Women’s Manifesto’. The manifesto says that the policy would enable grandparents “to take time off work without fear of losing their job”.
Commenting on the proposal CBI director for employment and skills Neil Carberry said: “Many grandparents play an important role in helping support working families, so these proposals to consider making existing leave entitlements more flexible will help them to balance that responsibility with their own careers.
“Businesses are looking forward to seeing the details of this policy and making sure it works for both family members and their respective employers.”
The women’s manifesto also pledges to strengthen the law against maternity discrimination, making it harder for businesses to dismiss female employees on maternity leave, and to make gender pay gap reporting mandatory for large companies.
The party would also extend free childcare from 15 to 25 hours for working parents of three- and four-year-olds and double paid paternity leave to four weeks.
“Labour has a better plan for equality for men and women from the shop floor to the boardroom,” the manifesto states.
