Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) guidance and (b) support his Department provides for employers on the management of maternity cover; and what plans he has to increase such support.

There is extensive guidance for employers on both Gov.uk and the Acas website on the statutory entitlement to maternity leave and pay. The Acas Helpline Online tool provides Q&A for employer and employee customers. The tool contains guidance on the working arrangements for people providing maternity cover and links to more detailed content on establishing fixed term contracts and the way in which employers should manage the process of an employee returning to work following maternity leave.

Acas also provides web-based guidance on maternity leave and pay, including material on arrangements for keeping in touch with parents on one form of leave or another.

In the last 12 months (September 2014 to August 2015) 1,997 customers have attended Acas training courses on issues related to working parents, including Maternity, Shared Parental Leave and operating Flexible Working.

The Acas Helpline takes in the region of 50,000 calls from employers and employees on topics related to maternity, paternity and adoption each year, providing practical guidance and support for customers, including assistance in relation to maternity cover issues.

Acas plans to review its web guidance on maternity during 2015 and the question of maternity cover will be covered in more detail in future guidance.

In addition the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has produced a suite of frequently asked questions for employers to assist them in understanding their legal obligations and providing suggestions of good practice in managing pregnancy, maternity leave and return to work.

EHRC has also produced a toolkit for employers, particularly aimed at smaller employers who do not have an HR function, which contains a stock of pre-prepared letters, check lists and ready-made policy templates. It also allows employers to keep on top of key dates with a date calculator.