Are you aware as an employee or employer that a new Act has come into place from 1^st October 2014 allowing fathers to take time off work to accompany a pregnant woman to attend an ante natal appointment?

This new rule means that fathers who qualify in the list below are able to take unpaid leave on two separate occasions (up to 6.5 hours) to accompany the pregnant mother:

• The baby’s father
• The expectant mothers spouse, civil partner, partner (of either sex) in an enduring relationship
• Intended parent of the child in a surrogacy agreement

This new law is a day 1 right which means that the employee will not need to accrue a minimum amount of service before taking the time off.

Department for Business Innovation and Skills has published a document for employers with further guidance - Guidance on new rights.

Personnel Today have written “employers should provide their staff details of the new right and review their documents including their maternity, paternity and agency workers policies” 

To read their full article please click on the link below

Antenatal rights for Fathers October 2014                 

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