Employees or agency workers, who have a qualifying relationship with a pregnant woman or her expectant child, are entitled to unpaid time off work to accompany her to up to two antenatal appointments. These should last no more than 6 ½ hours for each appointment, and should cover your employee’s travelling, waiting and attendance.
Your employees are entitled to this as a “day one” right.
Agency workers must have completed 12 weeks, carrying out the same sort of work in your company, with no breaks between their assignments.
From 1 October 2014, your employees or agency workers, taking time off to accompany a pregnant woman to an antenatal appointment, will be protected from being subject to any detriment. This includes any act, or deliberate failure to act, because they take leave to accompany their co- parent to antenatal appointments. This includes their right not to be unfairly dismissed.
To find out more about your rights at work, contact us today on 01273 609911, or email info@ms-solicitors.co.uk.