Working Parents and Carers

New work and family rightsWork 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 the existing 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.  Under current legislation:

  • pregnant employees are entitled to nine months' paid maternity leave.  All women entitled to six months' Ordinary Maternity Leave are also entitled to a further six months' Additional Maternity Leave
  • employers and employees can benefit from ‘Keeping in Touch’ days which allow, where employees and employers agree, a woman on maternity leave to 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 weeks' notice.  This is intended to 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, which was originally intended for those with responsibility for caring for a child, was extended in 2007 and now includes 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.