Time off for maternity leave
Last updated July 2005
- What is it?
- More information
What is it?
- If you work for an employer you will qualify for 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave.
- If you have worked for your employer continuously for 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the week your baby is due, you may be able to get additional maternity leave. Additional maternity leave lasts 26 weeks from the end of ordinary maternity leave.
Other rights
- Pregnant employees also have special employment rights, for example the right to take time off work for antenatal care.
- All parents have the right to time off work to deal with an emergency or unexpected situation involving a dependant.
- If you have worked for your employer continuously for a year, you may be entitled to parental leave. This is time off work to look after a child or make arrangements for the child's welfare. You can use it to spend more time with children and to strike a better balance between your work and family commitments. Parental leave may be unpaid.
- The right to paternity leave and pay, where the qualifying conditions are satisfied
- The right to adoption leave and pay, where the qualifying conditions are satisfied
- The right to apply for flexible working
More information
You can get more information on existing rights and these new rights from:
- the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) website
- the Government's interactive guidance site www.tiger.gov.uk
The DTI also provide leaflets on these rights:
| PL 958(rev 9) | Maternity Rights: A guide for employers and employees |
| PL 514 | Paternity Leave and Pay |
| PL 515 | Adoptive Parents - rights to leave and pay |
| PL 509 | Parental Leave |
| PL 516 | Flexible Working - the right to apply |
These leaflets are available on the DTI website