Election results 2024: What changes can employers expect?

Pregnancy dismissals

In April this year, the law was changed to give employees taking maternity leave enhanced and longer protection from redundancy.

Dismissals for redundancy can still occur, but employers must give the employee priority for any suitable available role during pregnancy and in the 18 months following childbirth.

Labour’s proposals go much further, making it unlawful to dismiss a woman during pregnancy or within six months of her return to work for any reason, except in specified circumstances.

It is not clear what the ‘specified circumstances’ will be.