26 February 2010
Employment Law Update - Maternity and Paternity Pay
Hull Solicitors Myer Wolff, provide an Employment Law update relating to both Maternity and Paternity Pay.
It has been announced by the government that the expected increase of Statutory Maternity Pay from 39 weeks to 52 weeks has been postponed. It was going to be introduced in April 2010. No new date is given for the implementation and therefore it is unknown when and if it will be introduced.
It has also been confirmed that the changes to Paternity Leave are being postponed. They should be introduced on 3rd April 2011 and will apply to all parents of babies born after this date. The changes to Paternity Leave would see the introduction of Additional Paternity Leave.
The father (or person with parental responsibility for a child) can then share the maternity leave period. The father would be allowed to take the remaining 6 months of maternity leave instead of the mother. He is entitled to be paid the same rate of pay as the mother would have received provided it is still within the 39 week period for Statutory Maternity Pay.
This would allow families to reorganise their childcare arrangements and allow fathers to be more actively involved in the initial stages of childcare. However, it does cause some problems for flexibility as the right to Additional Paternity Leave only applies to the last 6 months. Therefore if the mother wanted to return to work in the initial 6 months, there would be no opportunity for Additional Paternity Leave to start at this stage and there would be a gap in the transfer of childcare between the parents.
Current rates of Maternity Pay and others
The current rate of Statutory Maternity Pay will change in April 2010 along with changes to the rate of other payments such as Statutory Paternity Pay, Adoption Pay, Maternity Allowance and Statutory Sick Pay.
The earnings threshold to qualify is £97.00 per week from 4th April 2010.
The rate of pay for Statutory Maternity Pay, Paternity Pay, Adoption Pay and Maternity Allowance will be £124.88 a week from 4th April 2010
The rate of pay for Statutory Sick Pay will continue to be £79.15 per week from 4th April 2010.
If you wish to discuss any of the above with us please telephone 01482 223693 or visit the offices of Myer Wolff Solicitors in Hull at King William House, Lowgate, Hull. HU1 1YE.