The Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) has raised concerns over the Government’s plan to extend paternity leave to six months.

The RMI believes this will add “yet another layer of cost and bureaucracy” to the administrative systems of small and medium sized businesses.

Nick Jones, RMI director of human resources, says: “The proposals will be unworkable for many businesses that simply don't have the resource to cope with the loss of key members of staff for such a period of time.

“The RMI supports flexibility for workers with families - indeed, many employers in the retail motor sector has already made moves to implement family friendly policies - but we would have serious concerns over a one size fits all rule.”

Considerable costs in terms of recruitment, training and loss of productivity would all be affected by the new plans, says the RMI.

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