Businesses reminded about changes to maternity laws
March 28, 2007
Business adviser, Croner Consulting, is urging employers to review their HR policies, ahead of the upcoming extension to maternity leave and pay.
"Businesses need to ensure they are up to date with parental rights and communicate them clearly to staff," said Croner Consulting employment manager Alan Phillips.
"Employers have got used to there being both six months statutory maternity pay and six months maternity leave," he continued. "However, from 1 April, the time period for pay and leave are no longer the same. Employers need to be aware of this."
As part of the changes brought in under the Work and Families Act (2006), maternity leave will increase from six to 12 months on 1 April 2007 – regardless of employees’ length of service. All expectant mothers will qualify for 12 months’ leave, if the baby is due on or after 1 April this year.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) are also being extended from six to nine months, where the child is due on or after 1 April. Maternity pay will be extended to a full year by 2008.
"While the extensions to maternity pay will mean extra paperwork for employers, they will continue to be able to reclaim maternity pay from HM Revenue & Customs," said Phillips.
From 1 April, staff on maternity and adoption leave will also be allowed to take up to ten ‘keep in touch’ days. These allow employees to attend work, for training or to catch up with major developments, without losing their right to claim maternity or adoption pay.
The amount of notice an employee, wishing to return before the end of her maternity leave, is required to give their employer will also increase from 28 days to eight weeks.
"This increased communication will help employers manage the administration of leave and pay, and plan ahead with greater certainty," said Phillips.
Employers should also be aware that from 6 April, the weekly rate of SMP and SAP is being increased from £108.85 to £112.75.
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