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Children And Families Act 2014 - Implications For Employment Rights

Significant changes and rights are being introduced under the Children and Families Act 2014. These include:

  • The right to request flexible working has been extended to all employees with 26 weeks’ service. The employer must consider flexible working requests in a “reasonable” manner in line with a Code of Practice from ACAS which can be found here.
  • From 1 October 2014, fathers and partners will be able to take time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments ahead of child birth.
  • For babies due, or children placed for adoption, on or after 5 April 2015 mothers, fathers or adopters will be able to opt to share parental leave within the first year after the birth or adoption placement. This gives families more choice over taking leave in the first year - fathers and mothers’ partners can take up to a year or parents can take several months at the same time. The parents will be able to share up to 50 out of 52 weeks’ statutory maternity leave and 37 out of 39 weeks’ statutory maternity pay.
It is, therefore, a prime opportunity to review staff contracts and handbooks to ensure legal compliance. Employers will need to start considering and budgeting for fathers taking much longer periods of leave than before.

Posted on 09/24/2014 by Ortolan

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