Maternity Leave

Guides and expert advice on maternity leave issues for UK small businesses.

Employing & managing staff

The right to return to work after maternity leave

Michele Piertney of Acas answers your questions about employees coming back to work after maternity leave and what their job expectations and holiday entitlement should be

Employing & managing staff

Statutory maternity pay UK

A key member of staff tells you that she wants to take maternity leave. What are your maternity pay obligations and how long can they be away for? Sue Temelty has the answers

Employing & managing staff

Men and women bosses both discriminate over maternity leave fears

New research shows that male and female bosses both have the same reservations about hiring female staff and them taking maternity leave.

Employing & managing staff

Women on maternity leave denied same opportunities as peers

A quarter of women on maternity leave are not offered the same training opportunities as their colleagues, according to new research.

Work life balance

First-hand advice on planning a business while on maternity leave

Here, Lindsey Fish gives some top tips on how she went about planning a business while on maternity leave.

Office & home working

How company owners should manage maternity leave and pregnant employees

Danielle Ayres discusses the eight top tips that small business employers can adopt to help them properly manage pregnant employees in the workplace and those who go on maternity leave.

News

Employers narrow-minded on maternity leave

Almost two thirds of employers do not expect female employees to return to work after their maternity leave, research finds.

Employing & managing staff

Do I need to consider maternity pay?

One of my employees is pregnant. What are my considerations in regard to maternity pay?

Legal advice

Can I work on my business while claiming maternity benefit?

I am currently employed part time with a baby due in November. I intended to take maternity leave; however, my husband and I are starting a business. Can I work on it at all while claiming maternity benefit? (I won't be working as much as I intend to after maternity).

Work life balance

How to handle maternity leave as an employer

The news that an employee is pregnant can be a bit like a surprise visit from the in-laws: you might not be ecstatic about the idea but it's one of those times in life you just have to put a brave face on things.

Work life balance