New legislation provides flexibility for carers and working parents
5 April 2007
From April 2007, employees who are new parents or who have caring responsibilities for an adult are set to benefit from changes to the law.
A key part of the new package of measures is an extension of the right to request flexible working arrangements. Currently, this right is only available to employees who have a child under the age of six, or 18 if disabled. New legislation will see the right extended to people who look after an adult, such as their partner, a near relative or someone who lives with them.
Minister for Employment and Learning, Maria Eagle welcomed the new legislation: “Thousands of employees and their families across Northern Ireland will benefit from these new measures which will help make life easier for those who face difficulties trying to juggle work and family life.
“Not only is this good news for carers and those they look after, but a recent survey has shown that employers also see the benefits of flexible working. An overwhelming 92% agree that people work best when they can balance their work with other aspects of their lives.”
Also under the new legislation, working mothers and adoptive parents will receive an increase in paid maternity or adoption leave, from 26 weeks to 39 weeks. Employers will benefit too from a package of measures designed to make it easier for them to manage the absence of a member of staff on maternity or adoption leave.
The Minister added: “The increase in paid maternity leave will allow mothers greater choice. I am sure many women will welcome the opportunity to spend more time with their newborn babies during the important early months of their development.”
The Minister also referred to the introduction of new ‘Keeping in Touch’ days which will allow mothers, in agreement with their employer, to go into work for up to 10 days during their maternity leave.
“If they choose to avail of the opportunity, these new arrangements will allow employers and their employees greater flexibility to manage the mother’s return to work in a way that suits them both.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The extension to the paid maternity and adoption leave period applies to employees whose babies are due, or where a child is expected to be placed with them for adoption, on or after 1 April 2007. The Government’s intention is to increase this to 12 months by the end of the current Parliament.
2. The right to request flexible working for carers comes into operation on 6 April 2007.
3. These rights are part of a package of family friendly measures introduced in the Work and Families (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. It also includes a new right to an additional period of paternity leave for fathers, which is due to be introduced alongside the extension of Statutory Maternity Pay, Adoption Pay and Maternity Allowance to 12 months at a later date. This will enable 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 period.
4. In addition to the benefits already mentioned, under the new Work and Families legislation businesses will also benefit from:
· a two month notice period for women changing their return to work dates from maternity leave. This will allow employees and employers to plan more effectively for return to work; and
·clarity that employers can make reasonable contact with their employees on maternity leave to help them with planning and easing the mother's return to work.
5. Further details on the new rights, on the consultation process and on the wider package of measures for working families are available from the Department for Employment and Learning’s website at http://www.delni.gov.uk/work 
6. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872.