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). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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 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.. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Today’s announcement follows a raft of recent measures designed to support working parents, as part of the Good Work Plan. [08.08.2019] Pregnant women and new parents to get enhanced redundancy protections. The current law . It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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 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. Pay them 90% of their average weekly earnings (before tax). Redundancy. A Bill to give pregnant women and new mothers enhanced legal protections against redundancy has been reintroduced to Parliament. 1119378 (England) Limited by Guarantee. We use this information to make the website work as well as possible and improve government services. 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 Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy and Protection) Bill has been reintroduced by Maria Miller MP as a 10-minute rule Bill. The taskforce will make recommendations on what improvements can be made to the information available to employers and families on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. This is particularly so given the much-publicised government proposals to extend redundancy protection during pregnancy and maternity leave. You can change your cookie settings at any time. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The move comes in response to a government consultation that found new parents continue to face unfair discrimination. MP Seeks Enhanced Redundancy Protection For Pregnant Women And New Mothers. This makes it unlawful to discriminate against them on the basis of their pregnancy or maternity, i.e. Background Under the current law, women on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. 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 estimates that up to 54,000 women a year felt they had to leave their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity discrimination. Pregnant women and new parents to get enhanced redundancy protections. The reforms also cover those taking adoption or shared parental leave. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. It’s against discrimination law for your employer to make you redundant just because you’re pregnant or on maternity leave. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. Currently, pregnant women and those on maternity leave are protected from detriment by the Equality Act 2010 and associated regulations. Research estimates that up to 54,000 women a year felt they had to leave their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity discrimination. Currently, a woman on maternity leave who is selected for redundancy must be given priority over other employees at risk of … The move comes in response to a government consultation which found that new parents continue to face unfair discrimination. 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.. The bill, presented by Conservative MP, Maria … 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. @EvaCaletkova @TonyWinyard @TheSimonJordan Thanks for sharing Eva. 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. 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 is unacceptable that new parents continue to feel they are treated unfairly and the government is determined to put an end to this. 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. This will help ensure new parents are protected from discrimination in the workplace, regardless of gender and circumstance. 13 July 2020. And there are new redundancy after maternity leave entitlements and regulations for staff. It has been developed in partnership between Acas … The Charter sets out the standards and behaviours taxp… t.co/VusFPXDnmN. 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. 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. There are two main pieces of legislation which currently offer protections for pregnant women and new mothers. The Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill, presented in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Maria Miller as a 10-minute … 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. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Holiday. 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. These reforms will … 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 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. The next stage for this Bill, Second reading, is scheduled to take place on Friday 12 March 2021. 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. © 2019 International Association of Bookkeepers 2019. it is unlawful to select an individual for redundancy on these grounds. 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. 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. Women on maternity leave also currently have special protection in a redundancy situation. 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. There is no place for discrimination against new parents in the modern workplace. 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 This will help ensure new parents are protected from discrimination in the workplace, regardless of gender and circumstance. During the first 6 weeks of maternity leave. Legal protections against redundancy to be extended by 6 months for new mothers returning to work. Registered Office: 110 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4AY United Kingdom, Registered No. We hear from women struggling with pregnancy and maternity discrimination every single day on our helpline. 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. It will also make recommendations on raising awareness of employer obligations and employee rights. 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. 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… Latest news on the Pregnancy and Maternity (Redundancy Protection) Bill 2019-21. 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 … 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. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. 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 It will also make recommendations on raising awareness of employer obligations and employee rights. 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. Redundancy while on or shortly after maternity leave, adoption leave or shared parental leave A redundancy is a dismissal. The legal minimum for maternity pay If your business does not offer enhanced maternity pay, it must pay the following. It is unacceptable that new parents continue to feel they are treated unfairly and the government is determined to put an end to this. This gives employees on maternity leave priority access to redeployment opportunities over other redundant employees. “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.”. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Regulation 10 of the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999 states that a woman on maternity leave must be offered a suitable alternative vacancy. 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. New mothers returning to work now have six months of additional protection, where you can’t dismiss them. Enhanced redundancy protections for new parents in UK announced. 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 … You still build up … 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. 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. We look at how the law will change and the headaches that the amendments could cause for employers. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. The taskforce will make recommendations on what improvements can be made to the information available to employers and families on pregnancy and maternity discrimination. Greater redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mothers under proposed bill. There is no proposal to introduce a blanket ban on dismissals during this period, as applies in some other jurisdictions. Employees on maternity leave currently receive additional protection in redundancy situations. 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. This is because you may be about to give birth or may have been out of the workplace for some time and you would … Business minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “There is no place for discrimination against new parents in the modern workplace. Offering enhanced maternity pay can help your business attract and keep the best employees. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Pregnant women to get enhanced redundancy protection, ‘Wave of business insolvencies’ to hit Britain. Employees on maternity leave currently receive additional protection in redundancy situations. 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. 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. We have more general information on dismissal in maternity leave and 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. However, without government backing (which it has signalled it will not give) , it’s very unlikely to progress. 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. The current legal framework provides a layer of protection for woman on maternity leave in a redundancy situation. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. August 9th, 2019 By Ruth Harris No comments yet. 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. This follows the biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years that was set out by the Business Secretary in December 2018. The announcement follows a raft of recent measures designed to support working parents, as part of the Good Work Plan. 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. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. 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. These are the Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 1996 and regulations made under it (the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. The Equality Act sets out a ‘protected period’ during which women who are pregnant or have recently given birth are explicitly protected from discrimination. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. Government intends to extend this protection for additional 6 months once a mother returns from maternity leave. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This is a Private Members' Bill and was introduced to Parliament on … 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. They have the right to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy, if one is available, before being made redundant. Download our guide to redundancy rights when pregnant or on maternity leave (PDF, 299KB, 13 pages). The consultation is the government’s response to the Taylor Review, and had previously been raised by the Women and Equalities Select Committee. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal, and those on maternity leave have special protection in a redundancy situation. Regulations 1999). Further guidance on this will be issued in due course. 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