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I am expecting a child. What are my employment rights?

You are entitled to:

  • paid time off for ante-natal care
  • 52 weeks maternity leave, regardless of how long you have been with your employer
  • Statutory Maternity Pay for 39 weeks, provided you have worked for your employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before the baby is due. You may qualify for Maternity Allowance if you do not qualify for SMP.
  • continuation of the contract of employment, except for pay
  • return to the same employment after Ordinary Maternity Leave. After Additional Maternity Leave you are entitled to return to the same job unless that’s not reasonably practicable, in which case the right is to return to an appropriate similar job
  • protection from detrimental treatment or dismissal, including redundancy, on any grounds partly or wholly related to pregnancy
  • 13 weeks' unpaid parental leave until the child’s 5th birthday, or, if the child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, 18 weeks' unpaid leave until the child’s 18th birthday
  • dependants’ leave, where appropriate
  • request flexible working hours.

Partners of pregnant women and adopting parents may be entitled to paternity leave.

For more details see our information on Maternity Leave and Pay , also available by phoning the Know Your Rights line 0870 600 4 882.