In summary, the responses includes:
FLEXIBLE PARENTAL LEAVE
New right to unpaid time off for dads to attend up to 2 antenatal appointments
Maternity leave and pay remains unchanged: up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave and 39 weeks’ statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance
Additional paternity leave is to be abolished.
Flexible parental leave and pay: Working couples will be able to share leave and pay remaining when a woman ends her maternity leave or a person ends their adoption leave. The amount of pay or allowance available will be equivalent to the amount of untaken maternity pay, maternity allowance or adoption pay, which could be up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay. Each parent will need to qualify for leave and pay in their own right. Statutory adoption leave to become a “day one” right: abolition of the 26 weeks’ continuous employment requirement. Eligible adopters will also be able to take flexible parental leave. Intended parents in surrogacy cases who qualify for a Parental Order to become eligible for time off for up to 2 ante-natal appointments, statutory adoption leave and pay, if eligible, flexible parental leave and pay. Providing a separate system of unpaid parental leave (as now) for parents of children up to the age of 18. The proposal is to change the current system in two ways: first, to increase the age limit of the child whose parents may qualify for the leave from 5 to 18 years so the parents have more choice when to take it and the burden is spread over a longer period to assist employers; and second, to implement the new Parental Leave Directive, so will increase leave from 13 weeks per parent per child to 18 weeks. Statutory adoption pay to mirror maternity pay and be enhanced for first 6 weeks to 90% of an adopter’s average earnings.
Next steps
The government intends to introduce legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows, in order to implement the reforms by 2015.
Regulations to increase the number of weeks of unpaid parental leave will be introduced in 2013. From 2015 the government will implement the proposals for time off for fathers to attend 2 antenatal appointments, flexible parental leave, statutory flexible parental pay and increasing the age limit for unpaid parental leave. The legislation will provide the architecture for the flexible parental leave system and the government will launch a consultation early in the New Year to consider the detail of how the new system will work. The intention is to make it as simple to use as possible, building on the existing framework without creating unnecessary burdens and complexity.
FLEXIBLE WORKING
Flexible Working will be extended to all employees, except the new status of employee owners. The current statutory process will be replaced with a duty on employers to consider requests in a reasonable manner.
CIPP Policy News Journal
16/04/2014, Page 223 of 519
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker