The consultation is the government’s response to the Taylor Review, and had previously been raised by the Women and Equalities Select Committee. The Government has committed to new redundancy protections for pregnant women and new parents, which will entitle them to an additional six months of legal protection after their return to work. These include proposed new leave entitlements for parents of sick and premature babies and proposed new measures to ensure large businesses are more transparent on their policies for parental leave and pay and flexible working. These cookies do not store any personal information. It will also seek views on giving the same rights to parents returning from adoption leave and shared parental leave. Ultimately, the more that UK workplaces embrace flexible working and gender equality, the easier it will be for mothers and fathers to return to work and progress in their careers after parental leave. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Statutory Maternity Pay: business changes that affect payment, Shared parental leave and pay: employers' technical guide, Statutory Adoption Pay: employee circumstances that affect payment, Holidays, time off, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, Redundancies, dismissals and disciplinaries, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support, Transparency and freedom of information releases, Legal protections against redundancy to be extended by six months for new mothers returning to work, parents returning from adoption and shared parental leave will also be protected, boost in protections builds on biggest package of reforms in a generation as part of the Good Work Plan, any illness related to her pregnancy, or absence because of that illness, seeking to take, taking or having taken ordinary or additional maternity leave, she returns to work from ordinary or additional maternity leave (if she is entitled to either form of leave), or, two weeks after the end of her pregnancy, if she is not entitled to maternity leave, ensure the redundancy protection period applies from the point the employee informs the employer that she is pregnant, whether orally or in writing, extend the redundancy protection period by/to 6 months once a new mother has returned to work, extend redundancy protection into a period of return to work for those taking adoption and shared parental leave, establish a taskforce of employer and family representative groups. A bill to give pregnant women and new mothers enhanced legal protections against redundancy was reintroduced to parliament yesterday (8 July) amid warnings from MPs and campaigners that coronavirus threatens to compound existing maternity discrimination. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. It is unacceptable that new parents continue to feel they are treated unfairly and the government is determined to put an end to this. These reforms will for the first-time extend that redundancy protection for six months from the date of a mother’s return to work as well as … Download our guide to redundancy rights when pregnant or on maternity leave (PDF, 299KB, 13 pages). A Bill to give pregnant women and new mothers enhanced legal protections against redundancy has been reintroduced to Parliament. Managing redundancy for pregnant employees or those on maternity leave 4 This good practice guide looks at correctly handling redundancy process if you have employees who are pregnant or on maternity leave. This move goes further than current EU requirements on maternity entitlements and parental leave, showing that the UK is going even further in its commitment to workers’ rights and meeting the challenges of the changing world of work. This makes it unlawful to discriminate against them on the basis of their pregnancy or maternity, i.e. These measures form part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, published in 2017, which sets out how the whole of the UK can build on its strengths, extend them into the future, and capitalise on new opportunities. The current legal framework provides a layer of protection for woman on maternity leave in a redundancy situation. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 20% of mothers reported other financial loss which included failing to gain a promotion, salary reduction, a lower pay rise or bonus, not receiving non-salary benefits and/or demotion. © 2019 International Association of Bookkeepers 2019. Extension of redundancy protection after return from maternity leave: protection against redundancy will be applicable from the point the employee informs the employer that she is pregnant, whether orally or in writing, until six months after a new mother has returned to work. Offering enhanced maternity pay can help your business attract and keep the best employees. We use cookies to collect information about how you use GOV.UK. Employees on maternity leave currently receive additional protection in redundancy situations. We look at how the law will change and the headaches that the amendments could cause for employers. The government has published its response to its January 2019 consultation on “pregnancy and maternity discrimination: extending redundancy protection for women and new parents” and has confirmed that it will now take action to address such discrimination. Regulations 1999 if, during an employee’s maternity leave a redundancy situation arises and it is not practicable by reason of redundancy for the employer to continue to employ her under her existing contract, the employee is entitled to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy (where one exists). This is particularly so given the much-publicised government proposals to extend redundancy protection during pregnancy and maternity leave. Registered Office: 110 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4AY United Kingdom, Registered No. If you are made redundant during your maternity leave, regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999 (see extract below) states that a woman on maternity leave must be offered a suitable alternative vacancy, if one exists, as soon as her post is at risk of redundancy. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Regulations 1999). It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. It will also make recommendations on raising awareness of employer obligations and employee rights. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. During the first 6 weeks of maternity leave. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This follows the biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years that was set out by the Business Secretary in December 2018. In July 2019, pregnant women and new parents received enhanced protections. This gives employees on maternity leave priority access to redeployment opportunities over other redundant employees. Latest news on the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill 2019-21. The legal minimum for maternity pay If your business does not offer enhanced maternity pay, it must pay the following. This move goes further than current EU requirements on maternity entitlements and parental leave, showing that the UK is going even further in its commitment to workers’ rights and meeting the challenges of the changing world of work. New mothers returning to work now have six months of additional protection, where you can’t dismiss them. Research commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), found that 1 in 9 women said they had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job. Research estimates that up to 54,000 women a year felt they had to leave their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity discrimination. The Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy and Protection) Bill has been reintroduced by Maria Miller MP as a 10-minute rule Bill. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. These reforms will for the first-time extend that redundancy protection for six months from the date of a mother’s return to work as well as covering those taking adoption or shared parental leave. It will also make recommendations on raising awareness of employer obligations and employee rights. Legal protections against redundancy to be extended by 6 months for new mothers returning to work. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Further guidance on this will be issued in due course. Maria Miller, Conservative MP for Basingstoke, has reintroduced a Private Members Bill, the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill 2019-21 seeking to “ prohibit redundancy during pregnancy and maternity leave and for six months after the end of the pregnancy or leave, except in specified … There is no place for discrimination against new parents in the modern workplace. Government intends to extend this protection for additional 6 months once a mother returns from maternity leave. There are two main pieces of legislation which currently offer protections for pregnant women and new mothers. Employees on maternity leave currently receive additional protection in redundancy situations. A consultation proposes that the existing legal protection against redundancy for pregnant women and new mothers on maternity leave is extended so that it continues for up to six months after they return to work. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. The reforms also cover those taking adoption or shared parental leave. Pay them 90% of their average weekly earnings (before tax). These include proposed new leave entitlements for parents of sick and premature babies and proposed new measures to ensure large businesses are more transparent on their policies for parental leave and pay and flexible working. Following the consultation, the government has now committed to: Those taking adoption leave will receive the same protections as those on maternity leave, while the practical and legal differences between shared parental leave and maternity leave may mean that it will require a different approach. We hear from women struggling with pregnancy and maternity discrimination every single day on our helpline. The Charter sets out the standards and behaviours taxp… t.co/VusFPXDnmN. These are the Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 and regulations made under it (the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. This is despite the fact that there has been enhanced protection from redundancy for women during maternity in place for some time - the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999 require an employer to offer a woman on maternity leave any suitable alternative vacancy prior to making her redundant. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. The bill, presented by Conservative MP, Maria … If you need to make the employee redundant when they're pregnant or on maternity leave, you must: check the redundancy is genuine and necessary ensure you consult and keeps in touch use redundancy selection criteria that do not discriminate If a mother was to take her full entitlement to maternity leave, this could amount to 18 months protection – months more if you add the period of pregnancy. And there are new redundancy after maternity leave entitlements and regulations for staff. However, without government backing (which it has signalled it will not give) , it’s very unlikely to progress. @EvaCaletkova @TonyWinyard @TheSimonJordan Thanks for sharing Eva. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. Women on maternity leave also currently have special protection in a redundancy situation. We also have advice on what to do if you are under threat of redundancy. However, you may also be asking yourself what an employer should be doing in this kind of situation – where the employee at risk of redundancy is pregnant or on maternity leave. Research commissioned in collaboration with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2016 found that 11% of women reported they were either dismissed; made compulsorily redundant, where others in their workplace were not; or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job. The Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill 2019-21 was reintroduced to the House of Commons on 8 July 2020, and aims to provide pregnant women and new mothers with additional legal protections against redundancy.. A key purpose of the existing enhanced protection against redundancy for women on maternity leave is to help tackle discrimination and to change the culture which can exist around mothers and the workplace. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Redundancy. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Research estimates that up to 54,000 women a year felt they had to leave their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity discrimination. It recommends the current redundancy protection afforded to cover the period of pregnancy and a period of maternity leave, is extended to 6 months after the retu… [08.08.2019] Pregnant women and new parents to get enhanced redundancy protections. This is a Private Members' Bill and was introduced to Parliament on … The taskforce will make recommendations on what improvements can be made to the information available to employers and families on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. These reforms will for the first-time extend that redundancy protection for 6 months from the date of a mother’s return to work as well as covering those taking adoption or shared parental leave. Research commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) found that one in nine women said they had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job. 13 July 2020. This will help ensure new parents are protected from discrimination in the workplace, regardless of gender and circumstance. The Equality Act sets out a ‘protected period’ during which women who are pregnant or have recently given birth are explicitly protected from discrimination. At present, where an employee’s position becomes redundant whilst they are on maternity leave, the employer is under a statutory obligation to offer her any suitable alternative vacancy that exists at that time, without her needing to compete for the role with other applicants. 1119378 (England) Limited by Guarantee. Pregnant women to get enhanced redundancy protection, ‘Wave of business insolvencies’ to hit Britain. This is because you may be about to give birth or may have been out of the workplace for some time and you would … The Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill, presented in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Maria Miller as a 10-minute … We have more general information on dismissal in maternity leave and redundancy. Pregnant women and new mothers could receive up to two years of legal protection against redundancy, the time period being extended for an additional six months after their return to work. Enhanced redundancy protections for new parents in UK announced. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Enhanced Redundancy Protection for new parents ... a woman on maternity leave who is selected for redundancy must be given priority over other employees at risk of redundancy for any roles available that would be ‘suitable’ and ‘alternative employment. It intended to bring forward legislation "when Parliamentary time allows" to expand the period of redundancy protection from the point an employee notifies her employer of her pregnancy (whether orally or in writing) until six months after the end of her maternity leave. The next stage for this Bill, Second reading, is scheduled to take place on Friday 12 March 2021. It’s against discrimination law for your employer to make you redundant just because you’re pregnant or on maternity leave. There is no proposal to introduce a blanket ban on dismissals during this period, as applies in some other jurisdictions. Holiday. You still build up … PayPal has said it will allow bitcoin payments, a move that is being seen as a significant step towards the mainstr… t.co/7dTQIV9u97, We welcome the extension of the furlough and loan schemes for one month until the end of April 2021 - this will hel… t.co/fFJECpzadV, HMRC has published its following a full public consultation. Under Regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999, before making a woman on maternity leave redundant, an employer must offer her a suitable alternative vacancy where one is available.. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. The move comes in response to a government consultation that found new parents continue to face unfair discrimination. These reforms are a step forward in protecting the jobs of new mothers and parents returning to work, sending a strong message to rogue employers that discriminating against new parents is unacceptable. It has been developed in partnership between Acas … These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The government has published its response to its January 2019 consultation on “pregnancy and maternity discrimination: extending redundancy protection for women and new parents” and has confirmed that it will now take action to address such discrimination. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999 states that a woman on maternity leave must be offered a suitable alternative vacancy. Redundancy while on or shortly after maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave A redundancy is a dismissal. The taskforce will make recommendations on what improvements can be made to the information available to employers and families on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. The Government is pressing ahead with plans to extend the period during which pregnant employees and new parents are entitled to be offered any suitable alternative vacancy if they are being made redundant. MP Seeks Enhanced Redundancy Protection For Pregnant Women And New Mothers. The government has also announced that a new taskforce made up of employer and family groups will be established to develop an action plan on what further steps government and other organisations can take to make it easier for pregnant women and new mothers to stay in work. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Extend redundancy protection into a period of return to work for those taking adoption and shared parental leave; and Establish a taskforce of employer and family representative groups. The announcement follows a raft of recent measures designed to support working parents, as part of the Good Work Plan. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. The government is also to set up a new taskforce, made up of employer and family groups, to develop an action plan on what further steps government and other organisations can take to make it easier for pregnant women and new mothers to stay in work. The move comes in response to a government consultation which found that new parents continue to face unfair discrimination. It is unacceptable that new parents continue to feel they are treated unfairly and the government is determined to put an end to this. Business minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “There is no place for discrimination against new parents in the modern workplace. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Pregnant women and new parents to get enhanced redundancy protections. Britain will be engulfed by a wave of insolvencies once government furlough ... PayPal has said it will allow bitcoin payments, a move that is being seen as a ... HMRC has published its following a full public consultation. The reforms announced today will better protect new parents, giving them the peace of mind to manage the return to work while also caring for a new child. It will also develop an action plan on what steps government and other organisations can take to make it easier for pregnant women and new mothers to stay in work. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. This will help ensure new parents are protected from discrimination in the workplace, regardless of gender and circumstance. Pregnant women and new mothers could receive up to 2 years of legal protection against redundancy, with new protections today (22 July) being extended for an additional 6 months after their return to work, Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst announced. Today’s announcement follows a raft of recent measures designed to support working parents, as part of the Good Work Plan. You’ve accepted all cookies. Currently, a woman on maternity leave who is selected for redundancy must be given priority over other employees at risk of … During this ‘protected period’ a woman is protected against discrimination that arises as a result of: The ‘protected period’ currently runs from the start of a person’s pregnancy until: Under Regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Pregnant women and new parents to get enhanced redundancy protections Legal protections against redundancy to be extended by six months for new mothers returning to work parents returning from adoption and shared parental leave will also be protected Pregnant workers, those on maternity leave and new parents returning to work after an extended period of family leave will benefit from enhanced redundancy protections, the UK government has announced. August 9th, 2019 By Ruth Harris No comments yet. it is unlawful to select an individual for redundancy on these grounds. “The reforms… will better protect new parents, giving them the peace of mind to manage the return to work while also caring for a new child.”. Greater redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mothers under proposed bill. The current law . Currently, pregnant women and those on maternity leave are protected from detriment by the Equality Act 2010 and associated regulations. They have the right to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy, if one is available, before being made redundant. Background Under the current law, women on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. These reforms will … And there are two main pieces of legislation which currently offer protections for pregnant women and Select. Use of ALL the cookies feedback form that was set out by the business in... 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