Work and familiesSunday Apr 1
Family-friendly and flexible working.
Largely overshadowed by the new age discrimination legislation, family-friendly law also underwent some important changes in October due to the Work and Families Act 2006 (the Act). Aimed at introducing greater flexibility in the workplace, the changes will undoubtedly affect the way in which both employers and employees address work-life balance.
Some of the regulations implemented in the Act apply to employees whose babies are due on or after 1 April 2007 (or, in relation to adoption, where the placement is expected to occur on or after this date). The main changes include:
The removal of the qualifying period for additional maternity leave, entitling women who qualify for ordinary maternity leave to 52 weeks’ maternity leave, irrespective of their length of service.
The introduction of ‘keeping in touch’ days, allowing employees on statutory maternity and adoption leave to work for up to 10 days during a leave period without losing statutory pay or bringing that period to an end.
The extension of statutory maternity and adoption pay from 26 to 39 weeks. This period is due to be extended to 52 weeks by the end of this Parliament.
The right to request flexible working is also due to be extended. This right currently applies to employees with parental responsibilities for a child under 6 (or, if the child is disabled, 18). From 6 April 2007, this right will be extended to an employee who cares for an adult (e.g. the spouse, partner or civil partner of the employee, or a near relative or an adult who falls into neither category but lives at the same address as the employee. Near relative will include parents, parents-in-law, siblings and step-relatives).
It is also proposed that employees will have a new entitlement to additional paternity leave and pay. Fathers would be entitled to be absent from work for a maximum of 26 weeks to care for a child, before the child’s first birthday. The Government intends to introduce this new entitlement at the same time as statutory maternity and adoption pay are extended to 52 weeks.
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