April 2010 Paternity leave and pay is extended
Fathers will be able to take up to 26 weeks’ paternity leave if the mother other child returns to work before the end of her maternity leave entitlement, during the second six months of the child’s life. Leave may be paid if taken during the mother’s statutory maternity pay period. The legislation comes into force in April 2010, effective for parents of babies due from 3 April 2011.
Right to request time off for training is introduced
A right to request time off to undertake training, modelled on the right to request flexible working, is introduced. Employers will be obliged to seriously consider requests that they receive, but will be able to refuse a request where there is a good business reason for doing so. Employers will not be obliged to meet the salary or training costs.
Social Security (Medical Evidence) and Statutory Sick Pay (Medical Evidence) Amendment Regulations 2010 come into force
The regulations replace the current sick-note approach with a ‘fit note’ system. They change the format of the medical statement to allow the doctors to record whether a patient is fit or not fit for work, or an option to indicate where someone ‘may be fit for some work now’.