F8Part VIII
F7Chapter I MATERNITY LEAVE
Pt. VIII (ss. 71-80) substituted for Pt. VIII (ss. 71-85) (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 7, Sch. 4 Pt. I; S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 para. 10)
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1
An employee may, provided that she satisfies any conditions which may be prescribed, be absent from work at any time during an ordinary maternity leave period.
2
An ordinary maternity leave period is a period calculated in accordance with regulations made by the Secretary of State.
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Regulations under subsection (2)—
a
shall secure that, where an employee has a right to leave under this section, she is entitled to an ordinary maternity leave period of at least 26 weeks;
b
may allow an employee to choose, subject to prescribed restrictions, the date on which an ordinary maternity leave period starts;
c
may specify circumstances in which an employee may work for her employer during an ordinary maternity leave period without bringing the period to an end.
4
Subject to section 74, an employee who exercises her right under subsection (1)—
a
is entitled F3, for such purposes and to such extent as may be prescribed, to the benefit of the terms and conditions of employment which would have applied if she had not been absent,
b
is bound F4, for such purposes and to such extent as may be prescribed by any obligations arising under those terms and conditions (except in so far as they are inconsistent with subsection (1)), and
F5c
is entitled to return from leave to a job of a prescribed kind.
5
In subsection (4)(a) “terms and conditions of employment”—
a
includes matters connected with an employee’s employment whether or not they arise under her contract of employment, but
b
does not include terms and conditions about remuneration.
6
The Secretary of State may make regulations specifying matters which are, or are not, to be treated as remuneration for the purposes of this section.
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The Secretary of State may make regulations making provision, in relation to the right to return under subsection (4)(c) above, about—
a
seniority, pension rights and similar rights;
b
terms and conditions of employment on return.
Pt. 8 (ss. 71-80) substituted for Pt. 8 (ss. 71-85) (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 7, Sch. 4 Pt. 1; S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(1)(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 (with transitional provisions in Sch. 3 para. 10)