Working Parents and Carers

New work and family rightsNew work and family rights

If you're an employee who's intending to adopt a child, a woman having a baby or a person who cares for an adult dependant, then new employment rights could benefit you. Adopters, pregnant women and carers can find out about their rights by following the links on the right.  Employers who want to know more about recent developments relating to new work and family rights can find information in our update bulletin.  Similar information can also be found by looking at our summary of working parents' rights and links to useful guidance.

The changes have been brought about by the Work and Families (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and associated regulations.  The most significant developments are set out below.

From April 2007

  • Pregnant employees will be entitled to nine months' paid maternity leave.  All women entitled to six months' Ordinary Maternity Leave will also be entitled to a further six months' Additional Maternity Leave.
  • Businesses will be able better to administer Statutory Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay through rationalisations to the ways in which payments are made.
  • Employers and employees will be able to benefit from the introduction of ‘Keeping in Touch’ days so that, where employees and employers agree, a woman on maternity leave can go into work for up to 10 days without losing her right to maternity leave or a week’s statutory pay.
  • If a woman or adopter wants to change her return date from maternity or adoption leave, she will have to give her employer eight rather than four weeks' notice.  This should make it easier for both the employer and the employee to make plans for the return to work.  To help in this process, the legislation also makes clear that employers will be able to make reasonable contact with their employees during maternity or adoption leave.
  • The right to request flexible working will be extended to employees who care for an adult spouse, partner, civil partner, relative or an adult living at the same address.

Future changes to work and family rights

  • It is intended to extend paid maternity leave further, from nine months to a year, by the end of this Parliament.
  • There are also plans to introduce paid Additional Paternity Leave, enabling fathers to benefit from leave and statutory pay if the mother returns to work after six months but before the end of her maternity leave.

The Department has examined feedback to public consultation on the new rights and has published responses dealing with maternity and adoption leave regulations, extension of the right to request flexible working, and Additional Paternity Leave and Pay.