businesslink.gov.uk has launched a free online tool to help businesses comply with the family-friendly changes, which are being introduced in October. The new legislation applies to parents of babies due to be born or placed for adoption on or after 1st April 2007 and means that maternity and adoption pay and leave will be extended.
The interactive tool helps managers establish their employees’ entitlement to paternity and adoption pay and leave, as well as flexible working. Employers receive a tailored report highlighting their responsibilities and a best practice approach to ensuring guidelines are adhered to, benefiting both the business and its people.
Says Jonathan Hollow, businesslink.gov.uk’s Portal Editor: “Employers often see legislation changes as disruptive and expensive. Small businesses in particular feel vulnerable to the impact of having a member of staff on leave. We want businesses to use the tool as a starting point to help managers ensure the right measures and procedures are being followed, allowing employees to benefit from a more family-friendly workplace.”
Other main changes coming into effect in April include:
- The extension of the right to request flexible working to carers
- Changes to benefit employers including longer notice if an employee changes their mind about when they’re returning coming back from maternity or adoption leave.
To find out more about the tool please visit: www.businesslink.gov.uk/paternityandadoption
ENDS
Notes to editors:
About Business Link
Business Link provides the information, advice and support you need to start, maintain and grow a business.
It exists to help anyone thinking of starting a business; to help small and medium-sized businesses to grow and to help businesses deal with problems, challenges and opportunities. Business Link nationally provided support to over 740,000 businesses in 2005 / 06 and over 550,000 of these were existing businesses.
Business Link’s services are delivered through advisers in your local area supported by the national website www.businesslink.gov.uk or by calling 0845 600 9 006.
The national website www.businesslink.gov.uk provides free access to all relevant information, guidance, funding and training from government and the business sector. As one of the leading sites for small business, it has more than 600,000 visits every month from individuals involved in business.
