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Key Area Briefing - Maternity / Parental Entitlement
The government has set down a number of basic maternity entitlements that all pregnant
women should receive. Employers can decide whether they want to extend these rights
either by increasing the maternity leave and pay or by waiving the need to fulfil various
criteria. For example, some employers disregard the rules on length of service. It is
becoming more popular to introduce paternity entitlements to fathers such as paid leave
to cover the birth and time immediately afterwards.
All employed women who are pregnant can claim:
- 14 weeks maternity leave; paid time off for antenatal classes and appointments;
health and safety protection.
- the right not to be dismissed because of pregnancy.
Some women can claim (depending on length of service etc.)
- extended maternity absence - up to 29 weeks from the week of the birth
- statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance
Women may begin maternity leave and pay for 11 weeks before the expected week of child birth. If they are absent for a pregnancy-related reason after the start of the 6th week before the expected week of childbirth, maternity leave and pay start automatically on the first day of absence. Some changes to maternity rights are imminent.
For more detailed information contact:
The Maternity Alliance,45, Beech Street, London EC2 8AD
Advice Line: 020 7588 8582
Information taken from Focus TEC Family-Friendly Pack and from "Families that Work" DayCare Trust £10
Parental/Adoptive Leave
From December 1999 the European Directive on Parental Leave comes into force in the UK. This entitles British parents to up to 3 months unpaid leave each when they have a baby or adopt a child. For mothers Parental Leave entitlements are in addition to maternity leave entitlements.
For further information contact:
New Ways To Work Advice Line 020 7930 3355
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