What are the entitlements regarding the return to work after maternity leave?
An employee is entitled to return to the same job with the same hours and rate of pay at the end of ordinary maternity leave. It is automatically classed as an unfair dismissal if the job is not offered back. On return to work after taking additional leave the employee is entitled to the same job or a suitable alternative if the original job is not available. If the employee require less hours on return the employer must make every effort to accommodate the request and have a sound business reason for rejecting it. it is acceptable to hire a new employee on a short or fixed term contract to cover the period of ordinary leave and then terminate due to the return of the employee from leave.
