Improved Rights For Parents and Carers

Changes to maternity and adoption leave, and a new right for carers to request flexible working, take effect this month as a result of the Work and Families Act 2006. All expectant mothers will now qualify for additional maternity leave regardless of service, meaning they can take up to 52 weeks leave in total. Mothers whose babies are born on or after 1 April 2007 will also be entitled to 39 weeks paid maternity leave. Similar provisions are being introduced for adoption leave. Also, the right to request flexible working will be extended to carers of adults from 6 April. This will affect an estimated 2.6 million working carers.

ACM has a PDF version of the government’s guide on the new maternity arrangements. Called Pregnancy and Work, we can e-mail this to members if they send a request to the ACM helpline.