What legislation applies to maternity leave?
What legislation applies to maternity leave?
Employment Rights Act 1996 which sets out rights to health and safety, time off for ante-natal care, maternity leave and unfair dismissal. Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999 which set out a woman’s entitlement to maternity leave and the notification requirements.
What law governs maternity leave in the UK?
Most of the relevant UK legislation is in the Employment Rights Act 1996, the Employment Relations Act 1999, the Employment Act 2002 and the Work and Families Act 2006. Shared parental leave arrangements are covered in the Children and Families Act 2014.
What is the difference between maternity leave and parental leave?
About maternity and parental leave Maternity leave is unpaid leave that allows employees time for pregnancy, childbirth, post-childbirth recuperation, adoption and childcare. Parental leave without pay is unpaid leave that allows an employee time to care for their newly born or adopted child.
What are family friendly rights?
Family friendly rights include maternity, paternity and parental leave and rights for part-time workers. The first two weeks of leave (starting from the date of the birth) are known as compulsory leave. It is a criminal offence for an employer not to ensure that the woman takes two weeks of leave once the baby is born.
Can I be forced to take maternity leave early?
Yes, it is up to you to choose when you wish to start your maternity leave. You can work up to the birth and your employer must continue to monitor any health and safety risks at work up to the birth. However, if you give birth early, your maternity leave and pay will start the day after the birth.
What are family friendly policies?
Family-friendly policies are defined as those policies that help to balance and benefit both work and family life that typically provide three types of essential resources needed by parents and caregivers of young children: time, finances and services.
Can both parents be on parental leave?
Unpaid Parental leave can be taken by both birth and adoptive parents. Parents are entitled to take up to 37 consecutive weeks of parental leave, which may be used by one parent or split between both parents.
What can parental leave be used for?
Parental leave is a form of unpaid leave that entitles employees to take time off to look after their child‟s welfare. Typically, such leave is intended to allow parents to spend more time with their children or settle children into new childcare arrangements.
What’s the earliest you can take maternity leave?
11 weeks
The earliest you can start your maternity leave is usually 11 weeks before your due date. However, even if you decide to work right up until your due date, if you end up taking time off with a pregnancy related illness during your last month of pregnancy, your leave will start then.
