Employers Guide to Family Friendly Flexibility

Over the last few years successive governments have increased existing and introduced new family friendly rights.

When Margaret Attwood wrote The Edible Woman in 1969 woman had very few rights in the workplace. Many were dismissed when they became pregnant and had no legal protection. Since then there have been a number of statutes passed with the result that women who are pregnant or on maternity leave are among the best protected employees in the UK. From the introduction of six weeks’ maternity pay in 1975 to the right to return to work after having a baby in 1981, things have slowly changed and improved for female employees.

From 2002 we have seen a significant increase in rights for families. Most of the rights support employees with young children, but they have been extended to include older children as well as employees caring for adult dependents. The legislation has been strongly supported by case law, in particular the cases decided by the European Court of Justice.

There will be more in the pipeline. Ever since the Coalition Government came to power in 2010 it has indicated that it wants to introduce flexible working for all employers.

• Preface
• About the author
• Miscellaneous notes

1. Overview of the Ebook
1. Introduction
2. Maternity rights
3. Paternity rights
4. Adoption rights
5. Flexible working
6. Time off for dependants
7. Parental leave
8. Other rights
2. Maternity rights
1. Introduction
2. Notification
3. Ante natal care
4. Safety
5. Leave entitlement
6. Maternity pay
7. Other rights
8. Reasonable contact
9. Keeping in touch days
10. Return to work
11. Miscarriage or still birth
12. Parental bereavement
3. Paternity rights
1. Introduction
2. Ante natal care
3. Ordinary paternity leave
4. Paid OPL
5. Right to return after OPL
4. Adoption rights
1. Introduction
2. Who qualifies?
3. Notification
4. Adoption leave
5. Adoption pay
6. Keeping in touch days
7. Returning to work
5. Flexible working
1. Introduction
2. What is flexible working?
3. Eligibility
4. Making a flexible working request
5. Employers’ responsibilities
6. Further changes
7. Reasons for refusing a request
8. Opportunity to appeal
9. Withdrawal of request
10. Protection from detriment
6. Time off for dependants
1. Introduction
2. Who is a dependant?
3. Right to time off
4. Procedure
5. How much time can an employee take off?
6. Refusal
7. Abuse of the right
7. Ordinary parental leave
1. Introduction
2. The right to time off
3. Terms and conditions during parental leave
4. How much notice must an employee give?
5. Postponing parental leave
6. Providing evidence
8. Other rights
1. Shared parental rights - introduction
2. Eligibility for shared parental leave and pay
3. Opting for SPL
4. How much SPL and SPP can be taken?
5. Booking SPL
6. Terms of employment during SPL
7. Carer’s leave - introduction
8. Who can take carer’s leave?
9. Neonatal care