Ms Pauline O'Hare:

We need to look at the cumulative effect of the different types of leave that are coming in because we have to think about the cost impact of a lot of these types of leaves. We have just had statutory sick leave and auto-enrolment is coming, as is the transposition of the work-life balance directive. It is about the cumulative effect of the various types of leave. We cannot look at one type of leave in isolation; rather, we need to look at the cumulative effect of that. Employers, especially small businesses, are dealing with the cost of the energy crisis and they are coming out of Covid still dealing with the challenges-----