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People Thoughts

Hot on the heels of the new Age Discrimination legislation, changes are imminent to the existing raft of Family Friendly policies.

  

 

 

While the amendments don’t come into force until April 2007, you should be looking at the policies now for any future implications.  For example, any woman expecting a baby or any parent likely to be matched to a child for adoption on or after this date will be entitled to benefit from the new arrangements.

 

So, just what are the new policies?

 

Maternity and Adoption

  

 

 

• Statutory maternity pay, maternity allowance and statutory adoption pay will all be extended from 26 weeks to 39 weeks.
  
• Additional maternity leave and additional adoption leave will be available to all employees regardless of their length of service.
  
• Employers will benefit from being allowed to make ‘reasonable contact’ with employees whilst on maternity/adoption leave.
  
• Optional ‘keeping in touch days’ to give employees the chance to undertake work for you without losing their right to maternity/adoption pay.
  
• ‘Any day’ start period for the maternity/adoption pay, rather than referencing the Sunday before the expected week of childbirth/matching of a child.
  
• Employees will be required to provide 8 weeks notice of their intention to return to work early rather than the current 28 days.
  

Paternity Leave

  

 

 

Affecting those whose partner is expecting a baby or taking adoption leave on or after 1 April 2007, new policies include paid paternity leave up to 26 weeks in the 12 months following the birth or adoption of a child.  This can only be taken if the partner on maternity/adoption leave has returned to work and not exhausted their full entitlement to maternity/adoption leave.

 

Flexible Working Requests

 

 

As if the above changes are not enough to digest from April 2007, the definition of a carer will be extended to cover those who care for adults.