New guidance from ACAS on how to support parents with sick or premature babies

Book your free initial call

    We endeavour to make an initial response to all enquiries within 24 hours but please be aware that on some occasions due to prior commitments or volume of calls we will not be able to respond in that time frame. We also operate a 48 hour return policy. This return policy means that if we have not responded with 48 hours of your initial enquiry we are unable to do so due to current workloads and we will destroy your data accordingly. This policy ensures you are not left waiting and have the certainty that your data is not compromised. In most instances however we are able to make contact within a 24 hour time frame. Please note our free initial advice service is available to clients at our total discretion and if your case is of a complex nature we may not be able to offer you a free consultation. However in these instances we will advise you what the charge would be for an initial fixed fee consultation.
  • (view our privacy statement)
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

There has been some new advice published this month for employers to help assist them in supporting employees who have given birth to premature or sick babies.

The new advice from ACAS includes:

• ensuring compassion and sensitivity in all communications;
• ensuring discretion – finding out from parents what they are happy for colleagues to know with regards to their situation.
• ensuring employees are aware of statutory entitlements to leave, such as shared parental leave; and
• trying to be flexible in allowing time off when parents return to work to give time for any follow up appointments or treatment for the baby.

Business Minister Margot James said:

“Working parents deserve support at work, and those who have premature babies should expect nothing less than total backing from their employers at what can be an exceptionally difficult and worrying time.”

Written by

Rachael Jessop
18th September 2017