MATERNITY
RIGHTS (PL958 Rev 9)
A guide
for employers and employees
Annex A:
Model letter for employers to acknowledge notification of maternity leave
| This letter should be used when only the statutory levels
of leave and pay are provided. (Employer must respond within 28 days of
receipt of employee's notification.) |
Date:
Dear
[name of employee],
Congratulations
and thank you for telling me about your pregnancy and the date that your baby is
due. I am writing to you about your maternity leave and pay.
As
we have discussed, you are eligible for 26 weeks' ordinary maternity leave/52
weeks' maternity leave (26 weeks' ordinary maternity leave plus 26 weeks
additional maternity leave) [delete as appropriate].
Given
your chosen start date of [insert date], your maternity leave will end on
[insert date].
If
you want to change the date your leave starts you must, if at all possible, tell
me at least 28 days before your proposed new start date or 28 days before
[insert date leave starts] (your original start date), whichever is sooner.
If
you decide to return to work before [insert date leave ends], you must give me
at least 28 days notice.
As
we discussed, you are eligible for 26 weeks' Statutory Maternity Pay/not
eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay [delete as appropriate].
Your
maternity pay will be £[insert amount] from [insert date] to [insert date] and
£[insert amount] from [insert date] to [insert date].
or
The
form SMP1 (enclosed) explains why you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity
Pay. You may however be entitled to Maternity Allowance. If you take this form
to the Jobcentre Plus or social security office at [insert local details],
they will be able to tell you more.
As
your employer I want to make sure that your health and safety as a pregnant
mother are protected while you are working, and that you are not exposed to
risk. I have already carried out an assessment to identify hazards in our
workplace that could be a risk to any new, expectant, or breastfeeding mothers.
Now you have told me you are pregnant I will arrange for a specific risk
assessment of your job and we will discuss what actions to take if any problems
are identified. If you have any further concerns, following this assessment and
specifically in relation to your pregnancy, please let me know immediately.
If
you decide not to return to work you must still give me proper notice. Your
decision will not affect your entitlement to SMP.
If
you have any questions about any aspect of your maternity entitlement please do
not hesitate to get in touch with me. I wish you well.
Your
sincerely,
Annex
B: Main changes to maternity rights for women expecting babies on or after 6
April 2003
| Baby due on or before
05/04/03 |
Baby due on or after 06/04/03 |
Length of leave
Ordinary maternity leave - 18 weeks
Additional maternity leave begins at the end of ordinary maternity leave
and ends 29 weeks after the date of birth. |
Ordinary maternity leave - 26 weeks
Additional maternity leave begins at the end of ordinary maternity leave
and ends 26 weeks
later. |
| Length of qualifying service for Additional
Maternity Leave |
| Continuous employment for one year at the beginning of the
11th week before the EWC. |
Continuous employment for 26 weeks at the beginning of the
14th week before the EWC |
| Start of maternity leave |
Start of leave can be triggered by pregnancy-related absence
in the 6 weeks before the EWC.
If leave is triggered by birth, it starts on the day of the birth. |
Start of leave can be triggered by pregnancy-related absence
in the 4 weeks before EWC (leave would start the day after the 1st day of
the absence).
If leave is triggered by birth, it starts on the day after the day of
the birth |
|
