1. Be aware of all the employees' maternity rights by law.
2. Gather together all information regarding the length of time the employee has worked for you.
3. All women are entitled to some maternity leave, whether paid or unpaid. Ensure all parties are informed of entitlements.
4. Most employees will be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) so check eligibility.
5. If SMP is to be paid, find out how much you will need to pay, for how long, and the earliest date it could start.
6. Check to see if you qualify for recoupment of SMP payments, as smaller business may be able to claim back up to 100% plus administration costs.
7. Consider any Health and Safety issues that arise as a result of employee pregnancy.
8. After the birth of the baby, all women must take a minimum amount of leave. Check how long this period is.
9. Ensure that both parties are well informed of the notice required when the employee decides whether to return to work.
10. The employee can expect to return to the same job or a position of similar status and nature. Smaller companies can be exempt from this rule however, so check your obligations on this issue.
11. Plan any cover which will be required for maternity absence. You do not want to overload existing staff or affect service levels.
12. Decide whether you will need to employ someone on a contract for cover, or whether you could engage an employment agency.
13. Be aware that from 6th April 2003, all new fathers will be entitled to some paid paternity leave too.
Do's and Dont's:
Do:
Remain positive about the situation.
Plan well ahead, anticipating any problems.
Inform the employee of all her rights and responsibilities.
Ensure that both parties remain well advised and channels of communication are clear and open.
Be aware of implications for other staff workloads.
Don't:
Dismiss an employee because she is pregnant, this would immediately be classed as unfair dismissal.
Be negative towards the employee - she is more likely to return if she feels she has been treated fairly.
Leave planning maternity cover too late.
Be daunted - there is a wide range of help and information available.
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