ACAS’ new guidance for employers regarding parents with premature of sick babies

There are more premature babies born in the UK than on would think. Currently, the figure stands at 95,000.

The journey of pregnancy to birth is an emotional rollercoaster for many couples, and when a baby is born prematurely or with health difficulties, it can be a trying time for parents. 

The stress this can cause can then have an effect on an employee’s work, and employers need to be aware of how they can assist and manage these circumstances appropriately.

ACAS’ helpful guidance can be found by clicking on this link: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6049

It may sound obvious, but things such as the below can make a real difference to your employee’s lives:

  • Making employees aware of statutory entitlements to leave (e.g. maternity leave/shared parental leave)
  • trying to be as flexible as possible in giving time off when affected parents return to work as their baby may need to have follow up appointments or health checks
  • Treating their circumstances with discretion and respect

For more details, or if you would like to discuss your potential legal needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Good communications is the key to a successful return to work. A good working relationship between the employee and their line manager is `important. Managers could check on how the employee is managing after returning to work by holding regular review meetings.