Maternity law changes tomorrow
by Liam
Working women who are close to their due date will be crossing their legs while the last few hours of the old maternity provisions are in force. Women who give birth after tomorrow are set to benefit from more favourable maternity provisions. Employers everywhere face the first in what is set to be a continued headache with the Government’s family friendly policies. As of tomorrow there are a number of changes to the maternity legilsation as follows:
Employees will be entitled to 39 weeks SMP (9 months)
Employees will no longer have to have 6 months service to qualify for Additional Maternity Leave. Provided they qualify for ordinary maternity leave they will also qualify for additional leave.
If an employee wants to return to work before the end of additional maternity leave then the period of notice required has been extended to 8 weeks to assist the employer with business planning.
A new concept of keeping in touch days has been introduced where the employee can do up to 10 days training or working during maternity leave without ending her leave. Payment is however only by negotiation.
The Government believes the cost to employers of these changes will be minimal - do you have a view share it with us.
More changes are due to be introduced next week for flexible working and rates of statutory payments so read about it here next week.
This entry was posted on Friday, March 30th, 2007 at 7:58 pm and is filed under Maternity.
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