The government has announced that new guidelines to support working mothers with premature babies will be drawn up to cover a range of issues, including requests for flexible working or additional time off.
Key stakeholders will be invited to offer their views on best practice and the guidance to be published on ACAS website shortly.
The government said it is committing to ensure employers know how best to support working mothers who give birth to premature babies – and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will work with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) and invite the views of premature baby charities to develop guidelines for employers on how to support their staff.
The government says it expects employers to be compassionate and flexible during the difficult period following a pre-term birth – and the guidance will make it easier for both working parents and employers to access advice, covering everything from how employers can offer flexible working arrangements following a premature birth, to how to handle requests for additional time off.
Business Minister Margot James said:
“While most employers treat their staff with compassion, it’s incredibly important that they know how best to support their staff at what can be a very difficult time for working parents.
“New and expectant mothers must feel confident of their rights in the workplace – and this new guidance will go some way to offering those reassurances.”
The government will keep the impact of the measures under review, but does not rule out legislating in the future.
The government says the UK’s maternity system is one of the most generous in the world – eligible mothers can take up to 52 weeks of leave and up to 39 weeks of pay.
In 2014, the government extended the right to ask for flexible working to all employees in work for more than 26 weeks – previously only parents and carers had a right to request flexible working
Around 20 million people are now eligible to apply for flexible working, with an estimated 60,000 people a year already taking advantage of new working arrangements – employers must have a sound business reason for rejecting any request.
Shared Parental Leave was also introduced to give working families more flexibility to share childcare responsibilities.
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