Maternity Leave and Returning to Work

There have been several cases recently where employers have been held to have unfairly or discriminatorily dismissed a employee by terminating their employment while on maternity leave or not allowing an employee to return to work after their maternity leave. Some of these decisions have attracted high awards – most notably the award against O’Callaghan Hotels of €315,000 by the Equality Tribunal.

It is always prudent to try and agree the various periods of leave an employee intends to take before they go on maternity leave. This helps both the employee and the employer to understand when the employee anticipates returning to work and reminds the employee of the notification requirements they have. Maternity leave can be a stressful time for employees if they are not properly managed and communicated with.  To assist employers with this process, Leman Solicitors has prepared a template maternity leave confirmation letter to be used by employers before an employee takes a period of maternity leave.  Please click here to access the template:

Maternity Leave Confirmation Letter 

For more information or to discuss a particular employment law issue please contact Linda Hynes on 01 639 3000 or at lhynes@leman.ie

Disclaimer
This publication is for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice. No liability is accepted by Leman Solicitors for any action taken or not taken in reliance on the information set out in this publication. Professional or legal advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from any action as a result of the contents of this publication. Any and all information is subject to change.