Fathers to get more family time

Companies are to be forced to give fathers who request it flexible working hours so they can play a greater role at home and in child care. Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis is set to launch a major campaign to change workplace equality laws and social attitudes to enable more men to share the parenting responsibility. Ms Ellis said that after creating an equal environment for women in the workplace, it's now time to give men the opportunity to be stay-at-home fathers. "I intend to pursue reform of our workplace equality legislation through the Parliament, to achieve greater choice and flexibility for Australians of both genders," she said. Ms Ellis said more family-friendly working arrangements are already in place for women. "Men can also be discriminated against in the workplace when it comes to caring for the kids," she said.