Children and Families Act 2014

On the14th March 2014 saw the Children and Families Act 2014 gain Royal Assent.

The Act will have three key implications for businesses, including the introduction of a new system of shared parental leave and the extension of the right to request flexible working to all employees.

Whilst mothers continue to be eligible for statutory maternity leave and pay, if they decide to end it early, the eligible working parents can share the balance of the remaining leave and pay, up to a total of 50 weeks’ of leave and 37 weeks’ of pay.

Current policies and handbooks will not cover the new scheme and will require updating. The new law comes into force in April 2015 and updates will need to be made in good time for the changes.

This new statute is a reminder of the importance of regularly reviewing employment polices to ensure that they are maintained inline with the ever changing legal landscape.

Contact Dan or David today to discuss a review and update of your polices.

Dan Wilde: wilded@hevans.com

David Lewis: lewisd@hevans.com