Maternity Leave redundancy protection extension

From 6 April additional protection for employees who are pregnant/on maternity leave who have returned after a period of adoption or shared parental leave came into effect.

The changes do not prevent employers from making pregnant employees or those who are taking or have taken a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave redundant. Employers should note that all redundancy exercises, including those that start before 6 April but are continuing on that date, could be affected by these changes.

Although the changes do not prevent employers from making pregnant employees or those who are taking or have taken a period of maternity, adoption or shared parental leave redundant, it does provide for such employees being given priority for redeployment opportunities and alternative roles.

Employers should note that all redundancy exercises, including those that started before 6 April but were continuing on that date, could be affected by these changes.

Advice should always be taken when proposing to carry out a redundancy exercise.