Government grants ''could help pay for lifestyle benefits''

The cost of offering lifestyle benefits to staff should be subsidised by the government.

This is the view of campaign group ParentsOutLoud, which suggested that organisations could spend the cash on setting up in-house childcare facilities or summer clubs.

Margaret Morrissey, a representative from the group''s website, told the Mirror that flexible benefits such as homeworking should also be considered by employers.

She argued that "times have changed" - and that the workplace needs to evolve to meet the needs of modern families.

"Many parents don''t have a support system of an extended family able to step in so maybe it''s time for employers to take on that role," Ms Morrissey remarked.

Grandparents can sometimes help to ease the burden on working parents, but do not currently have the right to request flexible benefits, tax credits or childcare vouchers.

Last month, charity Grandparents Plus called for their role to be properly recognised by the British government. Back