Family-friendly Rights and the Law

Overview

Course duration: 1 day.

This course is run in partnership with JSB.

Comprehensive coverage of the existing law relating to maternity, adoption, paternity and parental rights, the rules on flexible working, and the new law in the Work and Families Act.

In an ever-changing legal environment, employers must ensure that policies and procedures are up to date and effectively implemented. The Government has extended the right to request flexible working to parents with children up to the age of 16. This extension, effective from 6 April 2009, of working parents’ rights could result in a quarter of a million employees changing their working hours.

Is it right for me?

HR Managers, officers, administrators and line managers.

What will I learn?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Understand all key elements of law relating to family-friendly rights
• Explain practical implications of the law for your own organisation
• Be confident when you advise personnel and line management colleagues
• Ensure compliance with family-friendly rights
• Prepare for extended family-friendly rights
• Anticipate further legal developments expected in the near future

What will it cover?

An overview of relevant legislation

• European Directives
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Employment Rights Act 1996, Employment Act 2002
• Regulations: health and safety, maternity and parental leave, paternity and adoptions, flexible working
• Work and Families Act 2006
• Flexible Working Regulations 2006

Health and safety of pregnant workers

• Risk assessment, avoiding risk, alternative work, suspension
• Employment law protection
• Antenatal care
• Case law

Maternity and Paternity Leave and Pay

• Qualification requirements
• Ordinary and additional maternity leave
• Contractual rights
• Return to work
• Holidays and sickness absence
• Dismissals and redundancy during leave
• Flexible working requests – procedures and case law

Case study

Parental and dependant leave

• Adoption leave
• Parental leave
• Time off for dependents
• Qualification requirements
• Workplace and collective agreements
• Default provisions for notice and postponement

Work and Families Act 2006

• “Keeping in touch” days
• Making “reasonable” contact
• New notice provisions of early return
• Further extensions of maternity pay
• Additional paternity leave
• Extension of the right to request flexible working to carers of adults

Further courses to consider

Essential Discrimination Law

Essential Employment Law

Complete Employment Law