Family-related leave

In summary:

• Those classed as employees may be entitled to maternity leave, which lasts for up to 52 weeks; maternity pay lasts for up to 39 weeks.
• The right to adoption leave/pay operates in largely the same way as maternity leave/pay.
• Fathers or one part of an adoptive couple (or one parent in a surrogacy arrangement) may be entitled to paternity leave of 1-2 weeks.
• A mother or primary adopter may curtail her maternity/adoption leave and pay and transfer to Shared Parental Leave and Shared Parental Pay.  The remaining balance of leave and pay can then be shared in blocks between the parents.
• Employees with one year’s continuous service may be entitled to 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave in respect of each child under 18, up to four weeks of which may be taken per year.
• Pregnant women are entitled to paid time off for ante-natal care; prospective fathers (or someone in a ‘qualifying relationship’ with a pregnant woman/her expected child) are entitled to unpaid time off.