(1)The Employment Rights Act 1996 is amended as follows.
(2)In section 71 (ordinary maternity leave)—
(a)in subsection (3), after paragraph (b) there is inserted—
“(ba)may allow an employee to bring forward the date on which an ordinary maternity leave period ends, subject to prescribed restrictions and subject to satisfying prescribed conditions;
(bb)may allow an employee in prescribed circumstances to revoke, or to be treated as revoking, the bringing forward of that date;”;
(b)after subsection (3) there is inserted—
“(3A)Provision under subsection (3)(ba) is to secure that an employee may bring forward the date on which an ordinary maternity leave period ends only if the employee or another person has taken, or is taking, prescribed steps as regards leave under section 75E or statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.”
(3)In section 73 (additional maternity leave)—
(a)in subsection (3)(a), for the words from “to choose” to the end there is substituted “ to bring forward the date on which an additional maternity leave period ends, subject to prescribed restrictions and subject to satisfying prescribed conditions; ”;
(b)after subsection (3)(a) there is inserted—
“(aa)may allow an employee in prescribed circumstances to revoke, or to be treated as revoking, the bringing forward of that date;”;
(c)after subsection (3) there is inserted—
“(3A)Provision under subsection (3)(a) is to secure that an employee may bring forward the date on which an additional maternity leave period ends only if the employee or another person has taken, or is taking, prescribed steps as regards leave under section 75E or statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.”
(4)In section 75A (ordinary adoption leave)—
(a)in subsection (2A), after “subsection (2)” there is inserted “—
(a)may allow an employee to bring forward the date on which an ordinary adoption leave period ends, subject to prescribed restrictions and subject to satisfying prescribed conditions;
(b)may allow an employee in prescribed circumstances to revoke, or to be treated as revoking, the bringing forward of that date;”;
(b)in subsection (2A), the words from “may specify circumstances” to the end become paragraph (c);
(c)after subsection (2A) there is inserted—
“(2B)Provision under subsection (2A)(a) is to secure that an employee may bring forward the date on which an ordinary adoption leave period ends only if the employee or another person has taken, or is taking, prescribed steps as regards leave under section 75G or statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.”
(5)In section 75B (additional adoption leave)—
(a)in subsection (3)(a), for the words from “to choose” to the end there is substituted “ to bring forward the date on which an additional adoption leave period ends, subject to prescribed restrictions and subject to satisfying prescribed conditions; ”;
(b)after subsection (3)(a) there is inserted—
“(aa)may allow an employee in prescribed circumstances to revoke, or to be treated as revoking, the bringing forward of that date;”;
(c)after subsection (3) there is inserted—
“(3A)Provision under subsection (3)(a) is to secure that an employee may bring forward the date on which an additional adoption leave period ends only if the employee or another person has taken, or is taking, prescribed steps as regards leave under section 75G or statutory shared parental pay in respect of the child.”
F1(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F1(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F1S. 118(6)(7) omitted (18.2.2026 for specified purposes, 6.4.2026 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), ss. 17(4), 159(3); S.I. 2026/3, regs. 3(4), 4(4) (with Sch. 1)
Commencement Information
I1S. 118 in force at 30.6.2014 by S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(b)