This page outlines the key pieces of legislation that cover the rights of workers on maternity, paternity, adoption and carer's leave.
These are:
- Employment Rights Act (1996) - introduced major changes to the rights of employees that want maternity or carer’s leave
- Work and Families Act (2006) - introduced extended entitlements on pay and leave for adoptive parents; better arrangements for maintaining contact between employers and employees on maternity leave; and simpler administration of maternity, paternity and adoption leave and pay.
There are also several orders and regulations which contain more provisions relating to specific aspects of the above, such as: