Millions of workers given greater parental leave rights - what it means for you

Millions of workers will be given "day one" rights for under a major shake-up announced by today.

Under current rules, you’re only entitled to paternity leave if you have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks - but the from Labour will rip this up, with workers eligible for paternity leave on day one of their employment. The same will apply to requesting unpaid parental leave.

Labour estimates around 30,000 fathers or partners will be eligible for paternity leave, while an extra 1.5million parents will have the right to unpaid leave from day one. The new Employment Rights Bill will also give pregnant women and new mothers greater protections from dismissal while pregnant, on maternity leave and within six months of returning to work.

At the moment, you can be made redundant while pregnant or on maternity leave if there is a genuine reason to make your role redundant. Your boss cannot make you redundant because you’re pregnant or on maternity leave - this would count as “automatic unfair dismissal” and discrimination.

Do you think Labour's new Employment Rights measures will benefit you? Let us know by emailing: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

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The strengthened protection has been welcome by employment rights experts. Jasmin Dhillon, Employment Partner at Spencer West LLP, said: “For many expectant mothers, the Bill is a win. It proposes making maternity pay a ‘day one’ right, in contrast to the current requirement to have been employed for at least six months.

"This ensures financial stability for more expectant mothers during this critical period, particularly given the seemingly ever-increasing costs of living. Under the new proposals, more women will qualify for better-paid leave, giving families a better shot at balancing work and life."

However, Chris Farmer, Founder of Corporate Coach Training, warned the extra protection will mean employers will pick up additional costs. He said; "This increase in costs must either be absorbed by businesses, reducing profitability, or passed on to consumers, raising prices and potentially making the company less competitive in the marketplace."

How much is maternity pay?

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is the legal minimum your employer should pay you when you go off work to care for a baby, although many will pay more than this amount. SMPis paid for up to 39 weeks and is worth:

• 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first six weeks
• £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks

SMP is paid in the same way as your wages - so if you get paid monthly, or weekly - and tax and National Insurance will be deducted as normal. You're entitled to SMP if you work for your employer in the 15th week before your baby is due and have worked for them for at least 26 weeks before that, and your average pay, before tax, is at least £123 a week.

If you're not eligible for SMP from your employer, you may be entitled to Maternity Allowance from the Government instead. You will normally be entitled to Maternity Allowance if you've been employed or self-employed for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before your due date, and you've earned at least £30 a week for at least 13 of those weeks. You’ll get £184.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is less, for up to 39 weeks.

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