This section offers a wide variety of news, views, guides and stories about subjects including returning to work, flexible working, maternity & parental leave, childcare, career advice and employment rights.

Tax Credits & Benefits

Employment Rights

What are your rights if your employer changes your shift pattern? What about redundancy? This section offers expert answers to readers questions on employment rights. It will also update you on the latest employment news and legislation.

Ask the expert

Employment Rights

Holiday rights after maternity leave

My return date in July after Maternity Allowance follows 52 weeks of maternity leave. My company runs holidays from March to April, and they have told... read more

mental health at work open book on table and coffee Business

Employment Rights

Can I be forced to work full time if my daughter is mentally unwell?

I worked part time when my daughter was born in 2007 and then went full time when she started school. Five years ago she became mentally unwell and we... read more

Employee Rights Employment Equality Job Businessman Corporate Co - shift patterns

Employment Rights

Employer is forcing me to go back full time, but my child has mental health issues

I was working full time up to 2017 when my daughter needed treatment for mental health issues. She needed many appointments and is often sent home... read more

Employment Rights

Off sick and back on reduced hours temporarily. Should I sign a new contract?

I'm contracted to 40 hours a week, but have recently been off work due to surgery. I'm now back to work on reduced hours [24 a week], but this will... read more

Employment Rights

Fixed-term role ending on maternity leave, but permanent role is being advertised

I’m on a fixed-term contract which ends soon. I’m covering for someone who was temporarily promoted. I’m currently on maternity leave and I have... read more

Employment Rights

Can bank holidays be carried over during maternity leave?

I am on maternity leave and have been told that because we have a very generous annual leave policy I cannot carry over the bank holidays I have... read more

Employment Rights

Should acting-up role be given to me?

I was asked in 2019 to undertake additional duties and was paid a higher rate and have been doing this role since. Lately, the senior management team... read more

Employment Rights

Can I be made to work full time in a restructure?

Since 2015 I have worked four days per week in my current role. My employer is having a restructure of the department and has stated that all the new... read more

Maternity Discrimination: Advice & Support

When your rights have been breached
What is discrimination?
Settlement agreements
Redundancy on maternity leave

When your rights have been breached

What can you do if your rights have been breached upon your return to work from maternity leave?

We have teamed up with Monaco Solicitors to create a series of videos to give you some advice about the steps you can take.

For the full video click here.

Useful templates:

Seek legal help with Monaco Solicitors – click here.
Letter Template – Indirect Sex Discrimination
Letter Template – Grievance: Made redundant whilst on maternity leave
Letter template – Grievance: Flexible working discrimination

What is discrimination?

What is counted as maternity discrimination?

In this video we take a look at what constitutes maternity discrimination – and when you might have a case against your employers.

For the full video click here.

For more in depth information about discrimination and how it applies to employment law, click here.

Useful templates:

Settlement agreements

How can you negotiate a settlement agreement?

When you feel you have been discriminated against it can take a lot of time and energy to fight it up to tribunal stage. You could try to negotiate a settlement agreement first, so that you are compensated for your treatment.

Monaco solicitors offer some advice about how, and when you should go about this.

For more in depth advice about settlement agreements click here

Useful templates:

Redundancy on maternity leave

Can you legally be made redundant on maternity leave?

What are your employment rights in the UK?

Experts at Monaco Solicitors answer this question in the video. You can also find some useful information about maternity discrimination and letter templates for your use in the links below.

Click here for the full maternity discrimination video.

Useful templates: