My HR Knowledge Bank
Welcome to My HR Knowledge Bank. You will find frequently asked questions on all current HR Policies and procedures, links to all policies, useful forms, guidelines and toolkits.
MATERNITY AND PATERNITY LEAVE |
|---|
What time off am I entitled to when my partner has a baby?
If you have worked continuously for the Council for 26 weeks or more when the baby is born you will be entitled to two weeks paternity leave paid at the Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) rate.
In addition, the Council has a Maternity Support Leave and an Ordinary and Additional Paternity Leave Policy.
Maternity support leave is 5 days leave with full pay if you meet the criteria of being the child's father or partner of the mother or the nominated carer for the child.
You cannot use two weeks paternity leave as well as a week of maternity support leave but you can replace the first week of paternity leave with maternity support leave and take one week at full pay and the second week at the SPP rate.
You may also be entitled to 26 weeks Additional Paternity Leave. Information can be found in both the policies mentioned above.
The Council's Maternity Support Leave and Ordinary and Additional Paternity Support Leave policies can be accessed here.
When can additional paternity leave be taken?
The earliest time it can be taken is 20 weeks after the date the child is born.
Additional Paternity Leave must be taken as a single block in multiples of complete weeks. The minimum period is two consecutive weeks and the maximum period is 26 weeks of whatever statutory leave remains from the mother's entitlement.
When can an employee return to work after having the baby?
From two weeks after the birth.
When can I take paternity or maternity support leave?
On the day of birth, or following the birth and it must be taken within 56 days.
When can maternity leave start?
The earliest date maternity leave can start is 11 weeks before the Expected Week of Confinement (EWC) which is the week you expect to give birth as stated on the MATB1 certificate, and the latest is the Sunday before the week you expect to give birth.
When does Maternity Leave start if the baby is born early?
Maternity Leave would start the day after the baby is born.
Who should an employee inform in work when they become pregnant?
The employee should inform her manager and Human Resources as soon as is practical (once the expected birth date has been confirmed). This will enable the appropriate risk assessments required for the employee and the role to be completed as per the Pregnant Women at Work Policy.
As a minimum requirement the employee must inform her manager at least 28 days before maternity leave will begin and provide the MATB1 certificate from the midwife.
Further information is available in the Maternity Leave Policy.
Both Council policies can be accessed here.