From 1 October 2014, expectant fathers, or the partner of a pregnant woman, will be entitled to take unpaid time off work to attend antenatal appointments with their partner. The new legislation is designed to achieve the Government’s aim of encouraging greater involvement from both parents from the earliest stages of pregnancy. The BIS have published a seven page guide, ‘Time off to accompany a pregnant woman to ante-natal appointments: employer guide’ which provides a summary of the new legal right and then sets out guidance for employers under 13 ‘frequently asked questions’, including: who can take the unpaid time off?, is there a qualifying requirement?, how much time can be taken off?, and what happens if time off is refused? Subscribers will receive a Legal Development Alert later this month providing a summary of the new legislation.

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