The Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations 1999 aim to protect employees during maternity and parental leave, ensuring they can take time off work without the prospect of unfair treatment or losing their job. These regulations work in line with the Employments Rights Act 1966. The statute establishes a right to maternity and parental leave where employees have been continuously employed for a least a year and have or are expected to have responsibility for a child. It applies in cases of maternity leave, paternity leave or shared parental leave.
The statute sets out the difference between ordinary maternity leave entitlements and additional maternity leave entitlements. An employee's ordinary maternity leave period typically last 26 weeks, but if entitled, the employee could take an additional 26 weeks. The statute also outlines commencement of maternity leave periods and mandates a minimum period of maternity leave.
The statute also has two schedules which outline the process for making workplace agreements relating to maternity or parental leave and default parental leave entitlements.
