FAQ on maternity rights

Can I expect to go back to my old job?
That depends. Your employer should give you back your job or, if that is impossible, give you a suitable job on similar terms and conditions. But, if your employer has only five (or fewer) employees, you don’t have a clear-cut right to your old job. Your employer can say that it is not reasonably practical for them to offer you suitable alternative work. If they do say this, they must show that they have acted reasonably.

Further information

• The Maternity Alliance, 45 Beech Street, London EC2P 2LX (020 7588 8582; fax:7588 8584); email: info@maternityalliance.demon.co.uk publishes Pregnant at Work, 2000(£1.50 with sae)
• Parents at Work, 45 Beech Street, London EC2Y 8AD campaigns to improve the quality of life for working parents and their children and produces useful leaflets
• Trades Union Congress (TUC) publishes information on its website: www.tuc.org.uk
• The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) publishes booklets and leaflets which are also available on its website at http:www.dti.gov.uk under the heading Regulatory Guidance. They can be obtained free from Employment Service Jobcentres or from the DTI Order line (tel: 0870 1502 500). Or you can order them by post from DTI Publications Order line, ADMAIL 528, London SW1W 8YT. Maternity Rights: A Short Guide, DTI (Ref: URN 99/1190); Maternity Rights, DTI (Ref: URN 98/812 (detailed guidance on previous maternity rights)
• The Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999, published by the Stationery Office (0870 600 5522); website: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk
• The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Parental Leave Enquiry Line: 020 7215 6207
• The Equal Opportunities Commission, Overseas House, Quay Street, Manchester M3 3HN (0161 833 9244; fax: 835 1657); email: info@eoc.org.uk; website: http://www.eoc.org,uk. In Northern Ireland Contact the Equality Commission at http://www.equalityni.org
• Law Centres Federation (020 7387 8570; Scotland: 0141 561 7266)
• Citizens Advice Bureau – look in Yellow Pages, ask at your local library or call the National Association of Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in England and Wales (020 7833 2181), in Scotland (0131 667 0156) and in Northern Ireland (028 90 231120)