Purpose and scope
The purpose of this policy is to confirm and communicate the Company’s maternity arrangements and application procedures to enable employees to prepare for their absence and make decisions about their future.
The statutory right to maternity leave and pay are contained in various employment-related legislation and the Company will fully comply with these rules. Some main provisions of the statutory entitlements are summarised below. In the case of any discrepancy between the provisions below and the statutory provisions, the statutory provisions will apply. [This policy is not intended to give you any rights different from those laid down in relevant legislation.]
This policy applies to all pregnant employees, whether full time or part time, irrespective of length of service. However, some provisions are dependent upon the employee having 26 weeks continuous service by the end of the Qualifying Week. The Qualifying Week is the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC).
The pregnancy should normally result in a live birth to be eligible for maternity benefits, however the provisions of this policy will also apply in the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth after 24 weeks of confinement.