Balancing work and home life has never been more important. Many employers are proud to support the family commitments of their workforce, but the legal landscape can be complex. Without specialist knowledge, mistakes can happen, even with the best of intentions. For individuals, becoming a parent or raising children can be a joyful yet stressful period, and legal disputes are both unwelcome and emotionally draining. Our team helps both employers and employees navigate these situations with clarity and confidence.
Over many years, we have acted for numerous mothers and co‑parents who have been treated unfairly after notifying their employer of a pregnancy or after becoming parents through adoption. Employees in these situations benefit from a wide range of protections designed to safeguard their pregnancy rights, maternity rights, and adoption rights. These include:
Understanding these family rights is essential for both employers and employees. However, the law is only part of the solution. Effective strategy is just as important as legal knowledge. We draw on extensive experience to help clients assess their options, negotiate outcomes, and decide on the best route forward, whether that involves returning to work, resolving a dispute, or bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal.
We act for both sides, giving us valuable insight into how disputes arise and how to resolve them. For employees, we help assess whether conduct amounts to a breach of pregnancy rights, maternity rights or adoption rights, and advise on negotiation or litigation strategies. For employers, we recognise that making decisions about staff who are pregnant or on family leave can be daunting. Most managers want to act fairly and comply fully with their obligations, and we provide clear guidance to help them do exactly that. When disputes emerge, we support businesses through the process to reach the right outcome efficiently and lawfully.
Although many disputes relate to pregnancy, maternity, or adoption, a broader range of family rights may apply. We advise on:
We are here to guide both employers and employees through this evolving and sensitive area of employment law.
For information on how we charge for our services, click here.
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