SCHEDULE 16 - MATERNITY POLICY
1.
ABOUT THIS POLICY
1.1
This policy outlines the statutory rights and responsibilities of employees who are pregnant or have recently given birth, and sets out the arrangements for pregnancy- related sickness, health and safety, and maternity leave. It does not apply to agency workers or the self-employed. Arrangements for time off for antenatal care and to accompany a pregnant woman to antenatal appointments are set out in our Time off for Antenatal Appointments Policy. In some cases you and your spouse or partner may be eligible to opt into the shared parental leave (SPL) scheme which gives you more flexibility to share the leave and pay available in the first year after birth. However, you must take a period of compulsory maternity leave first. Details of SPL are set out in our Shared Parental Leave (Birth) Policy.
1.2
1.3
1.4
This policy does not form part of any employee's contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.
2.
PERSONNEL RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY
2.1
Our board of directors (the board) has overall responsibility for the effective operation of this policy and for ensuring compliance with the relevant statutory framework. The board has delegated day-to-day responsibility for operating the policy and ensuring its maintenance and review to the General Manager. Managers have a specific responsibility to ensure the fair application of this policy and all members of staff are responsible for supporting colleagues and ensuring its success.
2.2
3.
ENTITLEMENT TO MATERNITY LEAVE
3.1
All employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks' maternity leave which is divided into:
(a) Ordinary maternity leave of 26 weeks ( OML ).
(b) Additional maternity leave of a further 26 weeks immediately following OML ( AML ).
provided they comply with the notification requirements set out in paragraph 4.
4.
NOTIFICATION OF PREGNANCY
4.1
You should inform us as soon as possible that you are pregnant. This is important as there may be health and safety considerations (see paragraph 6).
4.2
Before the end of the fifteenth week before the week that you expect to give birth ( Qualifying Week ), or as soon as reasonably practical afterwards, you must tell us:
(a) that you are pregnant;
(b) the week, starting on a Sunday, in which your doctor or midwife expects you to give birth ( Expected Week of Childbirth ); and
(c) the date on which you would like to start your maternity leave ( Intended Start Date ) (see paragraph 7).
4.3
You must provide a certificate from a doctor or midwife (usually on a MAT B1 form) confirming your Expected Week of Childbirth.
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