New Protections for Parents and Carers at Work Receive Royal Assent

The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act is designed to protect pregnant employees and those returning from family leave by extending existing redundancy protections to cover pregnancy and a period after parents return to work.

A report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that:

• 1 in 9 mothers were either dismissed, made compulsorily redundant, or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job; and
• 1 in 5 mothers said they had experienced harassment or negative comments related to pregnancy or flexible working from their employer and colleagues.

The new legislation aims to remove pregnancy discrimination and the disadvantages reported by expectant mothers and those returning from family leave.

The law currently protects parents from redundancy only whilst on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave.

A TUC report found employers with practices to support pregnant women and new parents have an increased likelihood of maintaining a skilled and diverse workforce, in turn increasing profitability and productivity.

It can also result in higher levels of employee satisfaction.

The Work and Pensions Select Committee’s 2017 enquiry into employment support for carers revealed that carers must “often must choose between taking a sick day or using a day’s annual leave.

This can be detrimental to their own physical and mental well-being.”

The Carer’s Leave Act will permit the estimated 2 million members of the workforce who have to balance work with caring responsibilities to take up to 5 days of unpaid carer’s leave.

This development, which has been campaigned for over the decades by Carers UK, is expected to make a significant difference in unpaid carers’ lives, helping them stay in work and improving their well-being by giving time off to attend appointments, arrange or provide care.

In addition to helping support families and employees, it will help employers retain skilled employees who would otherwise likely leave employment due to the struggles of having to balance caring responsibilities and work.

Once implemented, it is clear that these new laws will help to boost workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and ease pressure on those trying to balance their job with their personal responsibilities whilst supporting businesses to grow.