Howells clients had their case dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service yesterday shortly before their court hearing for public order charges.
Campaigners Jenny Hockey, aged 70, and Freda Brayshaw, 72, had their cases discontinued due to a ‘lack of evidence’. Our clients, represented by Helen White, had been accused of preventing lawful work to fell trees outside their homes in Rustlings Road in November, but have since both been awarded £150 court costs when the charges were formally dropped.
A large proportion of the population are working parents, carefully balancing work commitments with childcare responsibilities. A lot of the time this is a very delicate balance, but do you know that you have legal rights as a working parent?
Employment law provisions ensure that working parents have a variety of rights in the workplace. We all hope that we have a supportive employer who recognises these rights – but this is not always the case and disputes can often arise.
“One in every 20 (pregnant and working) women are made redundant during their pregnancy, maternity leave or on their return.” (Maternity Action report on ‘Unfair Redundancies during Pregnancy, Maternity Leave and Return to Work’)
In this article, we summarise the various ‘family friendly’ or ‘working parent’ rights available to employees in the workplace.
During Pregnancy:
• If you are pregnant, you are entitled to time off to attend ante-natal appointments
• Partners (the father or civil partner) are entitled to unpaid time off to attend two ante-natal appointments
Maternity / Paternity / Adoption / Shared Parental Leave:
• As long as you have given your employer notice, you are entitled to take maternity leave. You must take 2 weeks compulsory maternity leave immediately following birth.
• You can take up to 52 weeks Maternity leave starting from or after the 15th week before the estimated date of childbirth.
• An employee who is adopting a child can take up to 52 weeks of adoption leave.
• The father/civil partner is entitled to take paternity leave of 1 or 2 weeks in the 4 weeks following birth/placement of an adopted child
• Either parent, who meet certain qualifying conditions regarding length of service and employment status are entitled to take Shared Parental Leave of up to 50 weeks
• Subject to meeting qualifying conditions, there is a statutory payment for maternity leave, adoption leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave. Any additional pay that may be provided by your employer will be detailed in your contract of employment.
Protection from discrimination:
• You are entitled to not be discriminated against or subjected to detrimental treatment (i.e. treated unfavourably) because you are pregnant or on maternity / adoption / paternity / shared parental leave.
• Throughout pregnancy and maternity/paternity/adoption leave, you remain employed on the same terms and conditions of employment and have the right to return to work on the same terms and conditions, or terms that are not to your detriment.
• You are also entitled to not be dismissed because you are pregnant or on maternity / adoption / paternity / shared parental leave.
Returning to work:
• During maternity or adoption leave you are entitled to make use of up to 10 ‘Keeping in Touch’ days or 20 days for shared parental leave, to allow you to attend work as normal and be paid as normal for these days. The timing of these days is something you must agree with your employer, but there is no obligation on you to take these days.
• If your employer commences a redundancy procedure impacting on your role during your period of leave, you are entitled to be consulted with about the procedure. If there is a suitable alternative role you are entitled to be placed in this role with priority over other employees affected by the redundancy procedure.
• Employees are entitled to make a flexible working request (provided no such request has been in the previous 6 months) i.e. to reduce their hours or rearrange their working pattern. There is a statutory procedure to follow for this.
• A parent is entitled to take up to 18 weeks’ unpaid leave before their child’s 18th birthday (including adopted children) as parental leave.
• All employees are entitled to take unpaid time off for dependants in an emergency situation.
Please note the rights of self-employed people are different.
If your employer has treated you unfairly, then a grievance is often the most practical way to try and resolve issues. We recommend you seek some advice from us and we can also help with preparing a grievance letter for you.
If you are unsure of your rights, please feel free to contact our expert employment specialists who will be happy to help and provide an initial consultation to you on your rights and circumstances. You can contact us by telephone, email or make use of our online employment clinic on Mondays or our free drop in service on Wednesdays. For more information see Employment.
Howells Solicitors are proud to continue to support Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice through fundraising, raising awareness and with a donation to help provide further short breaks for parents.
Howells has recently made a donation to our local Charity of the Year, Home-Start to help set up a family fund, as at present, countless families are struggling financially to buy necessities such as food, beds, appliances and pushchairs along with other household essentials.
Continue reading “Howells Solicitors’ donation helps fund local families in crisis”
Helen White Chartered Legal Executive Advocate and Duty Solicitor from Howells LLP will be giving a presentation on protest law with an opportunity to ask questions. Helen has successfully represented many protectors in court using her in depth knowledge and expertise. Essential event for anyone who wants to know their rights.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/protest-law-presented-by-helen-white-howells-llp-tickets-42396458950
Howells have obtained a reprieve for a homeless man with severe mental health problems who the Local Authority were refusing to rehouse.
Continue reading “Howells prevent man with mental health problems from becoming street homeless”
Howells have obtained £5000 for a tenant who brought a claim against her landlord for unlawfully evicting her. Her landlord had changed the locks of her property and refused to allow her to move into a property in relation to which she had a lawful tenancy agreement and right to occupy.
Continue reading “Howells obtain £5000 for unlawfully evicted tenant”
Partnership is created for duration of 2018 as Howells Solicitors give considerable support to their chosen Sheffield charity of the year, Home-Start South Yorkshire, due to their charitable services towards vulnerable, local families.
Howells Solicitors has supported Barnsley Hospice by supplying a troupe of teddies to help them support children to cope when a loved one is terminally ill.
Continue reading “Howells helps Barnsley Hospice with gift to support children”
Howells have obtained a five figure sum on behalf of the estate of a gentleman who suffered injuries as a result of neglect while in hospital.
Continue reading “Howells obtain five figure sum for medical negligence claim”