{"id":331,"date":"2018-03-28T09:15:51","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T09:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogsource.theholidaytracker.co.uk\/?p=331"},"modified":"2026-08-20T13:48:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T13:48:42","slug":"what-to-expect-when-an-employee-is-expecting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theholidaytracke-4xhy3odrd6.live-website.com\/2018\/03\/28\/what-to-expect-when-an-employee-is-expecting\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Expect When an Employee Is Expecting"},"content":{"rendered":"
The prospect of a pregnant employee in a small business can cause some business owners to break out in a cold sweat, especially if the business employs both prospective parents. So what can you do as a small business owner to support your staff, and help yourself?<\/p>\n The first thing that you need to know is that you may no longer be writing a straightforward Maternity Leave policy. In today\u2019s ever changing, modern society you have to be prepared for a range of circumstances that could affect your business.<\/p>\n Have you factored into your policies Shared Parental Leave, or Adoption Leave? Having policies in place will limit any possible complications and ensure everyone understands what is expected of them. Being prepared for these circumstances ensures that you are recognised as a business that takes work\/life balance seriously, and who wouldn\u2019t want to work for a business like that?<\/p>\n To plan for long term absence accordingly you need as much information as possible, as soon as possible. This will only happen if you have created a work environment in which all employees feel able to talk to you. If you want the parental leave process to be a smooth one, then create a culture in which you can have honest conversation with the staff involved and the team that they are a part of.<\/p>\n By keeping everyone in the loop, everyone knows where they stand, and the employee in question feels like a valuable member of the team, rather than an inconvenience. Likewise when the time comes, the employee will feel much more comfortable and confident returning to work, and that can only be a good thing for you and your business.<\/p>\n However, honest conversations can\u2019t happen if you don\u2019t have clear policies in place. Employees need to know what to expect from you, once they announce their news. The statutory obligations mean that your employees are entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity or adoption leave, and it can start 11 weeks before the expected date of childbirth or at the point of matching. Remember new mothers must take two weeks\u2019 leave immediately after the child is born.<\/p>\n
Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\nMaternity Leave Ain\u2019t What It Used to Be<\/h2>\n
Honesty Is the Best Policy<\/h2>\n
What Are Your Obligations<\/h2>\n