Family rights
Balancing your work with your responsibilities as a parent or a carer can be a juggle. Thankfully, as an employee, you do have rights and protections in relation to time away from work for family reasons.
However, we know that asserting those important rights is not always as simple as it should be and that your time at work can become difficult if your employer takes against your need to take time away for family reasons. That’s why we ensure you are protected and have the opportunity to take the family leave you are entitled to.
Request a consultation with our expert Employment Law solicitors to discuss
your rights to family leave and how to assert them.
We can help you assert your rights to family leave and represent you if your employer breaches your rights.
Our services include:
- Advising you of your rights to time away from work for family reasons;
- Supporting you in asserting your rights and challenging your employer’s decisions;
- Representing you in grievances and Employment Tribunal claims if your employer fails to uphold your rights to family leave; and
- Advising you on and supporting you in respect of related discrimination concern.
Our Approach
All of our highly experienced Employment Law solicitors are Legal 500 recommended leaders in their field, who provide jargon-free, commercial legal advice. We speak to you in plain English and provide specialist, practical and pro-active solutions for you.
We take the time to understand you and the challenges you face, enabling us to provide bespoke advice which is tailored to you.
Testimonial
“Gareth was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and practical in the advice he gave me. The issue was resolved very quickly and to my full satisfaction. I am happy to recommend the firm for any employment concerns.”
-NH
FAQs
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What family leave am I entitled to?
Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to many different kinds of family leave throughout your employment. These include:
- Maternity and/or paternity leave and/or shared parental leave following the birth of a child;
- Adoption leave after adopting a child;
- Parental leave to care for an older child; and/or
- Time off for dependents to deal with short term family emergencies.
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Is family leave paid?
Some types of family leave, such as maternity, paternity and adoption leave, do include statutory rates of pay for some or all of the leave period. Some employers may even enhance these payments you receive for such leave.
Other types of leave, such as time off for dependents, may be unpaid, unless your employer has specifically agreed to pay you for such leave.
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What if my employer refuses my request for family leave?
If you qualify for the relevant type of family leave, your employer is not entitled to decline your request. Doing so may give rise to claims, including in relation to discrimination and even constructive dismissal.
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What if my employer treats me badly for taking family leave?
Your employer is not allowed to subject you to a detriment for asserting your rights to family leave. This may include overlooking you for a promotion or a pay rise because you have had a period of family leave, for example.
If your employer does so, this may entitle you to bring claims in the Employment Tribunal, including in relation to discrimination and/or constructive dismissal. However, your employer’s internal grievance procedure is likely to be the first step for raising your concerns.
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Do I have other protections in relation to family leave?
All employees are entitled to protection from discrimination and an infringement of your rights to family leave may, in some circumstances, amount to unlawful discrimination.
From 6th April 2024, carers will be entitled to one week’s unpaid leave each year to care for a dependent.
Speak to us to see
how we can help
0161 926 9969
Why choose the mlplaw team?
- Unparalleled Expertise and Experience
We are vastly experienced, Legal-500 recommended Employment Tribunal experts who live and breathe Employment Law. From executive exits and tackling issues like unfair dismissal and discrimination to diving into the complexity of holiday pay – there is no Employment Law challenge we haven’t met head on. We provide empathetic and robust legal support to employees, helping them to achieve their successful outcomes.
- Your case, your service
You are unique, as are the challenges you face. That’s why our approach is always tailored to you. We don’t like one-size-fits-all strategies. We’re all about crafting tailored strategies that fit your specific needs. Communication is key. We’re fluent in plain language and have no time for legal jargon. We believe in complete transparency and proactivity, providing you with a clear path and fixed fees so you’re never caught off guard.
- We keep your options open
The road to success isn’t a one-way street, and we’re here to keep your options open. We’re masters of alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and negotiation, which are the keys to sidestepping the time, money, and stress of legal claims.
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