The government have delayed the implementation
of changes relating to entitlement during Additional Maternity
Leave. The changes were expected to apply to women whose
babies were due on or after 6th April 2008. They have been
postponed and now apply to women whose babies are due on or after
5th October 2008.
The changes extend women’s entitlement to non-pay contractual
terms and conditions of employment to be applicable throughout
the Additional Maternity Leave period. They were drafted
as part of the Sex Discrimination Act and later the Maternity
and Parental Leave Regulations.
Ordinary Maternity Leave is 26 weeks, with Additional Maternity
Leave bringing the total to 52 weeks. Rights that will
be extended include things like accrual of annual leave and entitlement
to company cars.
