Maternity and adoption leave changes finalised

The Government has finalised the Regulations that will allow employers to have reasonable contact with employees on maternity and adoption leave and arrange keeping in touch days.

The Maternity and Parental Leave etc and the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2006 come into force on 1 October 2006. The maternity provisions apply to employees with an expected week of childbirth on or after 1 April 2007. The adoption provisions apply to employees with whom a child is expected to be placed for adoption on or after 1 April 2007.

The Regulations also remove the service requirement for additional maternity leave. An employee who qualifies for ordinary maternity leave will now also qualify for additional maternity leave. In addition, they extend the notice that an employee must give in order to return early from maternity or adoption leave from 28 days to eight weeks.

  • Maternity and Parental Leave etc and the Paternity and Adoption Leave (Amendment) Regulations 2006 SI 2006/2014   Read the full text of the Regulations on the OPSI website.

  • Explanatory memorandum (PDF format, 107K)   Read the explanatory notes about the Regulations on the OPSI website.

    Also

    Work and Families Act 2006: what employers need to know   Michael Rubenstein, co-editor of IRS journal Equal Opportunities Review, provides guidance on the Work and Families Act 2006, which includes provisions to extend paid maternity and adoption leave and give carers of adults the right to request flexible working.

    Maternity and parental rights surveyed   Equal Opportunities Review conducted a survey in 2004 to assess employers' maternity, paternity, adoption and flexible working arrangements.

    Jaguar and Land Rover: driving women forward   Jaguar and Land Rover won the 2005 Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Employer of the Year award. As well as offering a range of flexible working options, Jaguar and Land Rover has invested in workplace nurseries and offers a year's maternity leave on full pay.

    Model policies and documents: maternity and adoption rights   Model policies, forms, contract clauses and letters on maternity and adoption rights.