Maternity, Paternity, Flexible Working and Family Friendly Rights
Parental Rights
There is now a wealth of employment legislation designed to help and protect eligible employees who are also parents (or expecting to be parents) with child care commitments. Although many of the current maternity rights, which include:
- the right to time off to receive ante-natal care
- the right to a period of maternity leave
- the right to statutory maternity pay, and
- protection from dismissal or less favourable treatment on the grounds of pregnancy and maternity absence;
are now well known, there are also other family friendly rights, which cover fathers, adoptive parents and guardians of children, including the right to paternity leave, unpaid parental leave and unpaid time off to deal with family emergencies. We can advise you on whether or not you may be eligible for these rights and how to go about preserving and exercising your rights.
Flexible Working
Parents and others with responsibility for the upbringing of children up to and including the age of 16, or the age of 18 if the child is disabled, and carers of dependent adults have the legal right to request flexible working.
It is important to note that employers are not obliged to agree to a request; they merely have to consider it properly, although you do have the right to appeal the rejection of a request.
We can advise you of your rights and help you to make and pursue such a request.
If you would like to discuss the above please email us, or go back to our other contact details.