EMPLOYMENT LAW MATERNITY & PATERNITY RIGHTS

Employment law is something whi h a!!e ts most o! "s at some time #"$ing o"$ li%es& an# it is the a$ea o! law that is p$o'a'ly the most omple( an# the most !$e)"ently hange# an# a##e# to* In o"$ e(pe$ien e it is also the a$ea o! law most o!ten igno$e# o$ o%e$loo+e#& pa$ti "la$ly 'e employe$s& espe ially employe$s in small to me#i"m '"sinesses* When yo" set "p a '"siness an# sta$t to employ people the$e is no legal $e)"i$ement that yo" ha%e any +nowle#ge o! employment law at all* Many employe$s simply pi + it "p as they go along& an# the$e is a lot to pi + "p* That means they o!ten get it w$ong* The "$$ent $ate ,!$om - O to'e$ .//01 !o$ the national minim"m wage is 23*4/ pe$ ho"$& an# now applies to home wo$+e$s too* The yo"ng wo$+e$s5 ,-4 6 .- yea$ ol#s1 "$$ent $ate is 27*48 pe$ ho"$ ,!$om O to'e$ .//01* In a##ition a new $ate !o$ -9 an# -: yea$ ol#s was int$o#" e# in O to'e$ .//7* This is now 28*3: pe$ ho"$ ,'"t note that app$enti es a$e e(empt !$om the new yo"ng wo$+e$5s $ate1* ,!$om O to'e$ .//01* The Wo$+ing Time Reg"lations ame into !o$ e in the ;< in O to'e$ -004* The Reg"lations ha%e int$o#" e# some new !"n#amental $ights !o$ wo$+e$s& whi h a$e s"mma$ise# he$e* As with all legislation the$e a$e e( eptions an# anomalies an# the #etails ontaine# he$e a$e only a $o"gh g"i#eline* The pa$ti "la$ a$eas o! li+ely inte$est a$e=6the ma(im"m 74 ho"$ wee+> omp"lso$y $est '$ea+s> pai# ann"al lea%e> The Ma(im"m 74 ho"$ wee+ ;n#e$ the legislation an employe$ annot ompel an employee to wo$+ mo$e than 74 ho"$s pe$ wee+ o%e$ a -: wee+ pe$io#& "nless the wo$+e$ has ag$ee# to #o so in w$iting* S" h an ag$eement an only 'e $ea he# on an in#i%i#"al 'asis* ?Wo$+ing time? is #e!ine# as when a wo$+e$ is ?wo$+ing& at his employe$5s #isposal an# a$$ying o"t his a ti%ities o$ #"ties? 6 all th$ee elements m"st 'e p$esent* I! the employe$ insists "pon the employee wo$+ing mo$e than the a%e$age 74 ho"$s the employee an omplain to an Employment T$i'"nal an# i! "phel# an laim "n!ai$ #ismissal* @omp"lso$y Rest A$ea+s A#"lt wo$+e$s a$e entitle# to .7 ho"$s o!! in ea h : #ay pe$io# an# yo"ng wo$+e$s ,-36-41 a$e entitle# to . #ays in :* In a##ition a#"lt wo$+e$s a$e entitle# to at least ./ min"tes "ninte$$"pte# $est i! thei$ wo$+ing #ay is longe$ than 9 ho"$s& an# they m"st ha%e at least anothe$ -- onse "ti%e ho"$s in ea h pe$io# o! .7 ho"$s wo$+e#* Yo"ng wo$+e$s a$e entitle# to 8/ min"tes $est i! thei$ wo$+ing #ay is o%e$ 7*3 ho"$s long& an# not less than -. onse "ti%e ho"$s $est in ea h .7 ho"$ pe$io#* Pai# Ann"al Lea%e All wo$+e$s a$e entitle# to pai# holi#ay !$om the #ay they sta$t wo$+ at the $ate o! -B-. o! thei$ ann"al entitlement pe$ month wo$+e#* As !$om Ap$il .//0 all wo$+e$s a$e entitle# to .4 #ays pai# lea%e ann"ally ,"p !$om the p$e%io"s ./ #ays1* It sho"l# 'e note# that the$e is no legal $ight !o$ employees to 'e gi%en Aan+ an# P"'li Holi#ays* The$e!o$e whe$e a wo$+e$ is pai# !o$ these #ays& they will o"nt towa$#s thei$ ann"al lea%e entitlement* The$e a$e now 9 'asi $ights $elating to mate$nity* We will t$y an# o%e$ the 'asi s o! all o! them he$e* They a$e=6not to 'e #ismisse# on g$o"n#s o! p$egnan y o$ hil#'i$th > a $ight to mate$nity lea%e !o$ all employees> a $ight !o$ a mothe$ to $et"$n to wo$+ a!te$ e(ten#e# mate$nity lea%e > a $ight to mate$nity pay > $ight to alte$nati%e wo$+ o$ payment #"$ing s"spension on g$o"n#s o! mate$nity > time6o!! !o$ ante6natal a$e These $ights a$e )"ite e(tensi%e an# omplian e an 'e %e$y #i!!i "lt an# #is$"pti%e to employe$s* The law the$e!o$e pla es a hea%y '"$#en on the employee to omply with st$i t p$o e#"$es an# timeta'les* Not to 'e #ismisse# on g$o"n#s o! p$egnan y o$ hil#'i$th All employees& $ega$#less o! how long they ha%e wo$+e# !o$ thei$ employe$& a$e entitle# not to 'e #ismisse# simply 'e a"se they a$e p$egnant& o$ ha%e gi%en 'i$th* In !a t any s" h #ismissal is a"tomati ally "n!ai$*

A $ight to mate$nity lea%e !o$ all employees Stat"to$y mate$nity lea%e is !o$ 3. wee+s ,i! the wee+ yo"$ 'a'y is e(pe te# to 'e 'o$n sta$ts 'e!o$e - Ap$il .//:& it is !o$ .9 wee+s& with an e(t$a .9 wee+s i! yo" meet e$tain on#itions1* Yo" may 'e entitle# to $e ei%e Stat"to$y Mate$nity Pay !o$ "p to 80 wee+s o! the lea%e* C"ali!ying !o$ stat"to$y mate$nity lea%e= I! yo"$ 'a'y is #"e on o$ a!te$ - Ap$il .//: As an DemployeeE yo" ha%e the $ight to .9 wee+s o! DO$#ina$y Mate$nity Lea%eE an# .9 wee+s DA##itional Mate$nity Lea%eE F ma+ing one yea$ in total* P$o%i#e# yo" meet e$tain noti!i ation $e)"i$ements& yo" an ta+e this no matte$ how long yo"E%e 'een with yo"$ employe$& how many ho"$s yo" wo$+ o$ how m" h yo"E$e pai#* I! yo"$ 'a'y is #"e 'e!o$e - Ap$il .//: As an DemployeeE yo" ha%e the $ight to .9 wee+s o! DO$#ina$y Mate$nity Lea%eE* P$o%i#e# yo" meet e$tain noti!i ation $e)"i$ements& yo" an ta+e this no matte$ how long yo"E%e 'een with yo"$ employe$& how many ho"$s yo" wo$+ o$ how m" h yo"E$e pai#* I! yo"E%e 'een with the same employe$ !o$ .9 wee+s 'y the en# o! the -3th wee+ 'e!o$e the 'eginning o! the wee+ when yo"$ 'a'yEs #"e& yo" also ha%e the $ight to an e(t$a .9 wee+s o! 5A##itional Mate$nity Lea%eE so yo" an ta+e "p to one yea$ in total* A##itional mate$nity lea%e is "s"ally "npai#& '"t some ompanies will ont$i'"te* It is !o$ the employee to #e i#e when she wants to ta+e he$ mate$nity lea%e& '"t she annot sta$t he$ lea%e ea$lie$ than the ele%enth wee+ 'e!o$e the e(pe te# wee+ o! hil#'i$th& an# he$ mate$nity lea%e is a"tomati ally t$igge$e# 'y any #ay on whi h she is o!! !$om wo$+ 'e a"se o! the p$egnan y o$ hil#'i$th& a!te$ the 'eginning o! the si(th wee+ 'e!o$e the e(pe te# wee+ o! hil#'i$th* The $ight is on#itional "pon the employee omplying with a omple( set o! noti e $e)"i$ements* She m"st gi%e the employe$ at least .4 #ays noti e o! the #ate on whi h she inten#s he$ mate$nity lea%e to sta$t ,"nless this is not $easona'ly p$a ti a'le& !o$ e(ample she goes into la'o"$ p$emat"$ely1* She m"st also in!o$m he$ employe$ in w$iting at least .4 #ays 'e!o$e he$ mate$nity lea%e pe$io# sta$ts that she is p$egnant& an# gi%e them the e(pe te# wee+ o! hil#'i$th* An employe$ an insist "pon a #o to$5s e$ti!i ate to on!i$m the in!o$mation p$o%i#e#* P$o%i#e# the employee omplies with the $"les she an $et"$n to wo$+ at the en# o! he$ .9 wee+s lea%e* She an $et"$n ea$lie$ i! she wishes& '"t will nee# to gi%e he$ employe$ se%en #ays noti e o! he$ intention to #o so* A $ight !o$ a mothe$ to $et"$n to wo$+ a!te$ mate$nity a'sen e Whe$eas all employees ha%e a $ight to $et"$n to wo$+ a!te$ thei$ -4 wee+s5 mate$nity lea%e& only those who ha%e wo$+e# !o$ at least one yea$ ,#e $ease# !$om two yea$s !o$ those whose e(pe te# wee+ o! hil#'i$th !alls on o$ a!te$ 8/ Ap$il .///1 !o$ thei$ employe$ at the 'eginning o! the --th wee+ 'e!o$e the e(pe te# wee+ o! hil#'i$th& )"ali!y to e(ten# thei$ a'sen e "p "ntil the en# o! the .0th wee+ a!te$ the a t"al #ate o! hil#'i$th& an# still 'e entitle# to $et"$n to wo$+* The employee m"st ha%e satis!ie# all o! the $e)"i$ements !o$ mate$nity lea%e& an# m"st also ha%e in l"#e# with that in!o$mation on!i$mation that she inten#s to e(e$ ise he$ $ight to $et"$n to wo$+* She sho"l# #o this e%en i! she #oes not thin+ it li+ely& as i! she !ails to noti!y them o! this intention 'e!o$e she lea%es she will lose he$ $ight to $et"$n* An employe$ an $e)"i$e !"$the$ on!i$mation !$om an employee that she inten#s to $et"$n* This $e)"est annot 'e ma#e ea$lie$ than th$ee wee+s 'e!o$e the en# o! the mate$nity lea%e pe$io#& an# m"st 'e $eplie# to within -7 #ays* Ginally when the employee wishes to $et"$n she m"st gi%e he$ employe$ at least .- #ays5 noti e in w$iting o! the #ate on whi h she e(pe ts to $et"$n to wo$+* The employe$ an postpone this #ate !o$ "p to !o"$ wee+s& p$o%i#e# they gi%e the $easons !o$ #oing so& an# the #ate on whi h they want they employee to $et"$n* The employee is entitle# to $et"$n to the Ho' in whi h she was employe# 'e!o$e she le!t on mate$nity a'sen e& an# on te$ms an# on#itions not less !a%o"$a'le than those she wo"l# ha%e 'een on i! she ha# not 'een away*

A $ight to mate$nity pay Stat"to$y Mate$nity Pay ,SMP1 was int$o#" e# in -04:* To )"ali!y the employee nee#s to satis!y the !ollowing on#itions=6 she m"st ha%e 'een ea$ning mo$e than the lowe$ limit !o$ ma+ing NI ont$i'"tions she m"st ha%e 'een ontin"o"sly employe# with he$ employe$ !o$ a minim"m pe$io# o! .9 wee+s en#ing with the -3th wee+ 'e!o$e the e(pe te# #ate o! 'i$th she m"st gi%e the employe$ me#i al e%i#en e o! the e(pe te# #ate o! 'i$th& an# gi%e them at least th$ee wee+s5 noti e o! he$ intention to 'e a'sent !$om wo$+ she m"st ha%e $ea he# the --th wee+ 'e!o$e the e(pe te# wee+ o! 'i$th& o$ ha%e $e ently gi%en 'i$th she m"st ha%e stoppe# wo$+ I! she an satis!y all these on#itions then she will )"ali!y !o$ SMP at the highe$ $ate ,0B-/ths o! he$ no$mal wee+5s pay1 !o$ si( wee+s& an# then at the lowe$ $ate ,!i(e# 'y the Go%e$nment 6 "$$ently 2-//*//pw ,Ap$il .//811 & o$ 0B-/ths o! a%e$age wee+ly ea$nings i! this is less& !o$ the $emain#e$ o! the mate$nity pay pe$io# ,"p to a total o! ./ wee+s in all1 I! an employee #oes not )"ali!y !o$ SMP she may laim the state mate$nity allowan e* A $ight to alte$nati%e wo$+ o$ payment #"$ing s"spension on g$o"n#s o! mate$nity An employe$ is $e)"i$e# to s"spen# an employee whe$e she is a woman o! hil#6'ea$ing age an# he$ wo$+ is o! a +in# whi h o"l# en#ange$ the health an# sa!ety o! new o$ e(pe tant mothe$& o$ that o! he$ 'a'y> o$ whe$e the employee is a new o$ e(pe tant mothe$ who wo$+s nights& who has a #o to$5s e$ti!i ate on!i$ming that she sho"l# not 'e at wo$+ !o$ any pe$io# #"$ing the night* Ae!o$e 'eing s"spen#e# !$om wo$+ on g$o"n#s o! mate$nity an employee has the $ight to 'e o!!e$e# alte$nati%e employment* I! this is a%aila'le& '"t not o!!e$e# then the employee an omplain to an Employment T$i'"nal* In a##ition an employee who is s"spen#e# on mate$nity g$o"n#s is entitle# to 'e pai# he$ no$mal pay #"$ing the s"spension& "nless she "n$easona'ly $e!"ses s"ita'le alte$nati%e employment* Time6o!! !o$ ante6natal a$e A p$egnant employee has a $ight not to 'e "n$easona'ly $e!"se# pai# time o!! wo$+ to atten# ante6natal a$e $e ommen#e# 'y a #o to$& mi#wi!e o$ health %isito$*

Pate$nity an# Pa$ental Lea%e In a##ition to mate$nity lea%e ,see a'o%e1 the$e a$e two othe$ i$ "mstan es in whi h lea%e an 'e ta+en 'y pa$ents* Pate$nity Lea%e Two wee+s pai# pate$nity lea%e has 'een int$o#" e# !o$ the !i$st time !o$ !athe$s o! 'a'ies #"e on o$ a!te$ 9 Ap$il .//8* Gathe$s will get a minim"m o! 2-// a wee+& o$ 0/I o! thei$ a%e$age wee+ly ea$nings i! this is less& !o$ two wee+s& +nown as Stat"to$y Pate$nity Pay ,SPP1* It an 'e ta+en !$om the #ate o! 'i$th o$ "p to eight wee+s !$om the 'i$th* To )"ali!y& the man m"st ha%e wo$+e# !o$ his employe$ !o$ .9 wee+s 'y the -3th wee+ 'e!o$e the 'a'y is #"e an# ea$n mo$e than the Lowe$ Ea$nings Limit , "$$ently 2:31* He m"st noti!y his employe$ o! the #ate he wants to sta$t pate$nity lea%e in the -3th wee+ 'e!o$e the 'a'y is #"e* Pa$ental Lea%e The Pa$ental Lea%e Ji$e ti%e 'e ame law on -3 Je em'e$ -000 6 so H"st what is itK Pa$ental lea%e is lea%e ta+en 'y an employee to loo+ a!te$ thei$ hil# o$ ma+e a$$angements !o$ the goo# o! thei$ hil#* Any employee who has one yea$5s ontin"o"s employment will 'e entitle# to pa$ental lea%e i! =6 they a$e name# on the 'i$th e$ti!i ate o! a hil# 'o$n a!te$ -3 Je em'e$ -000 an# age# "n#e$ 3& o$ they ha%e a#opte# a hil# "n#e$ -4 a!te$ -3 Je em'e$ -000 ,the $ight lasts !o$ 3 yea$s !$om the #ate o! the a#option1& o$ they ha%e pa$ental $esponsi'ility !o$ a hil# 'o$n a!te$ -3 Je em'e$ -000 who is "n#e$ 3* Go$ ea h )"ali!ying hil# the ?pa$ent? is entitle# to a ma(im"m o! -8 wee+s "npai# lea%e* Thei$ ont$a t o! employment will ontin"e #"$ing the lea%e pe$io# an# they will 'e entitle# to $et"$n to thei$ ol# Ho'& o$ to a Ho' that has at least the same stat"s& te$ms an# on#itions as the ol# Ho'*