Families and parents
There are a number of rights that protect you when you or your partner have, or adopt, a child.
It's important to remember that some of these rights only apply to people with a certain employment status (like an employee, or a worker).
If you are not sure what this means, make sure you read the general information on employment rights before you go any further.
Time off and pay when you are having a baby
Maternity leave and maternity pay
If you are having a baby, the person you work for must let you have a certain amount of time off. This is called Statutory Maternity Leave.
They must keep paying you a certain amount of money whilst you are off work. This is called Statutory Maternity Pay.
Statutory Maternity Leave is for employees only.
Statutory Maternity Pay is for all employees and some workers who have been in their job over a certain amount of time and earn over a certain amount of money.
If you can't get maternity pay, you might be able to get other financial support from the government, like Maternity Allowance.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
They also have a useful tool for calculating what you are entitled to.
If you think you have a problem with the amount of maternity leave or pay you are getting, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- Maternity Action is a national charity that provides free advice on maternity and parental rights at work and benefits. You can visit their website for more information or call their London Maternity Rights Advice Line on 0808 802 0057. It's open between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity that provide free advice for parents and carers. You can visit their website for more information, fill in their online advice form or call 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday, 11am - 2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with maternity leave or pay. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
Time off and pay when your partner is having a baby
Paternity leave and pay
If your partner is having a baby or you are adopting a child together, the person you work for must let you have a certain amount of time off. This is called Statutory Paternity Leave.
They must keep paying you a certain amount of money whilst you are off work. This is called Statutory Paternity Pay.
You may also be able to take some unpaid time off to go to check ups with you partner whilst they are pregnant.
Statutory Paternity Leave is for employees only.
Statutory Paternity Pay is for all employees and some workers who have been in their job over a certain amount of time and earn over a certain amount of money.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
They also have a useful tool for calculating what you are entitled to.
If you think you have a problem with paternity leave of pay, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- Maternity Action is a national charity that provides free advice on maternity and parental rights at work and benefits. You can visit their website for more information or call their London Maternity Rights Advice Line on 0808 802 0057. It's open between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with paternity leave or pay. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
Sharing time off and pay with your partner when you have a baby
Shared Parental Leave and Shared Parental Pay
If you and your partner are having or adopting a child you may be able to share a certain amount of time off. This is called Shared Parental Leave.
The people you work for must keep paying you a certain amount of money whilst you are off work. This is called Shared Parental Pay.
Shared Parental Leave is for some employees only and Shared Parental Pay is for some employees and some workers only.
It can be difficult to work out how much shared parental leave or pay you can get because it depends on the employment status of your partner and how much money you both earn.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
They also have a useful tool for calculating what you are entitled to.
If you think you have a problem with shared parental leave or pay, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- Maternity Action is a national charity that provides free advice on maternity and parental rights at work and benefits. You can visit their website for more information or call their London Maternity Rights Advice Line on 0808 802 0057. It's open between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with shared parental leave or pay. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
Time off and pay if you and your partner are adopting a child
Statutory Adoption Pay and Statutory Adoption Leave
If you and your partner are adopting a child you may be able to get some time off work. This is called Statutory Adoption Leave.
The person you work for must keep paying you a certain amount of money whilst you are off work. This is called Statutory Adoption Pay.
Only one of you can claim adoption leave or pay, but the other partner may be able to claim paternity leave or pay.
You might also be able to claim shared parental leave or pay.
Statutory Adoption Leave is for employees only.
Statutory Adoption Pay is for employees and workers who have been in their job over a certain amount of time and earn over a certain amount of money.
The government has more detailed information on their website.
They also have a useful tool to help you plan your adoption leave.
If you think you have a problem with adoption leave or pay, there are lots of different ways to try and deal with the problem yourself.
Citizens Advice has some good advice on their website about what you can do.
If you are struggling to deal with the problem yourself, there are lots of places where you can get more help.
Before you contact anyone for support, it’s really important to have as much information as possible. Things you might need include:
- a description of the problem you are having
- a copy of your employment contract (if you have one)
- a copy of any recent pay slips (if you have one)
- a copy of any letters or emails between you and the person you work for that relate to the problem you are having
- details of any conversations about the problem you have had with the person you work for
Over the phone or via email
- Maternity Action is a national charity that provides free advice on maternity and parental rights at work and benefits. You can visit their website for more information or call their London Maternity Rights Advice Line on 0808 802 0057. It's open between 10am and 1pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays
- Working Families are a national charity and have a free Legal Advice Service providing employment law and in-work benefits advice to parents and carers. You can visit the advice section of their website for more detailed information, use their advice contact form if you need personal advice via email (they aim to respond within five working days). Alternatively, you can call their helpline to speak to an adviser on 0300 012 0312 (open Monday to Friday 11-2pm).
- if you want more general information about employment rights you can telephone the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100. It's open from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, and can give you help in any language. If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use their Text Relay service on 18001 0300 123 1100. They may also be able to help you to sort out the problem with the person you work for. This is called mediation
- if you are disabled and want advice about your employment rights you can contact the Disability Law Service (DLS) on 0207 791 9800 or email [email protected]
- The charity Carers UK has guidance available if you care for someone who depends on you.
- if you are a member of a Trade Union you can contact them directly for advice
Face-to-face advice
We've created a map of advice centres in London to help you find out where to get help with adoption leave or pay. We've also provided their details in a list. Lots of them also give advice over the telephone or by email.
It’s important to remember that some places may only be able to help you:
- with certain things like general advice or filling in forms
- if you live or work close to them (eg you may have to live in the same borough)
- if you come from certain countries or backgrounds (eg you come from Eastern or Central Europe)
- if you don’t earn very much or are struggling with money
- if you have telephoned them first to make an appointment
Make sure you check these details on our map or list of centres so you find the right place to help you.
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