Family Friendly

  1. family FriendlyFlexible Working
  2. Maternity Rights (October 2008)
  3. Maternity Rights (October 2006)

1.Flexible Working

With effect from April 2009, parents of all children under the age of 17 who meet the qualifying conditions have the right to apply for flexible working.

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2. Maternity Rights (October 2008)

Women on additional maternity leave became entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as when they were on ordinary maternity leave (for babies expected after 5th October.  Note that this includes retaining all their contractual benefits, e.g. potentially Company Cars etc.

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3. Maternity Rights (October 2006)

Expectant women who are less than three months pregnant as of 1st October 2006 get various new rights with effect from 1st April 2007.

Key points include:

  • Extending paid maternity leave and adoption leave from six months to nine months.
  • Removing the current length of service requirement for additional maternity leave.
  • Introducing optional ‘keeping in touch days’ (KIT) which allow a mother to attend work for up to 10 days during her maternity leave without losing her maternity benefits or bringing her leave to an end.  Employees are protected from detriment or dismissal if they consider taking, take or refuse to undertake KIT work.
  • A clarification that employers are entitled to make ‘reasonable contact’ with employees while they are on maternity leave.
  • And an increase in notification requirement from 4 to 8 weeks where mothers wish to return to work early.

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