The Act contains a number of changes to make sure there is more flexibility and security for working families.
	Mothers have additional protection from redundancy during the period of pregnancy, when on Maternity Leave and a period after Maternity Leave. However, redundancy is only one of five potential reasons to dismiss someone. The Act amends existing powers so that regulations can be made to ban dismissals of women who are pregnant, on Maternity Leave, and during a six-month return-to-work period - except in specific circumstances. It also expands existing powers in relation to Adoption Leave, Shared Parental Leave, Neonatal Care Leave and Bereaved Partners Paternity Leave to enable regulation of dismissal in the period after a person returns to work after taking one of these forms of leave.
	Employees have a day one right to request flexible working, but employers can reject these requests for several reasons. The Act increases the burden of justification on employers so they must accept a request except where it is not reasonably feasible.
	To be eligible for Paternity Leave or Parental Leave, a parent must have met continuity of service requirements with their employer. For Paternity Leave, they must have completed 26 weeks of continuous service, while for Parental Leave a year of service is required. The Act will ensure that Paternity Leave and Parental Leave is a ‘day one’ right.
	Previously, all Paternity Leave and Pay must have been taken before Shared Parental Leave and Pay began. The Act removes this restriction, enabling parents to take their Paternity Leave and Pay after their Shared Parental Leave and Pay.
	Parental Bereavement Leave was previously the only statutory entitlement available to employees to grieve. The entitlement is available to those who lose a child who is under 18 years old or have a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The Act introduces a new right to Bereavement Leave, allowing employees to take leave from work to grieve the loss of other loved ones, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
	The Act also provides for the Government to undertake a review of the duties people can take time off work to do under the Time Off for Public Duties legislation, with specific reference to Special Constables.
Family Friendly Rights