Last year, the High Court ruled that UK laws on benefits during maternity leave fell short of EU requirements. As a result, the law has now changed. New rules apply to women who are due to give birth on or after 5 October 2008.
Under the new rules, employees will be allowed to keep their benefit package throughout the whole of their maternity leave period (previously it was just the first six months).
This means that you must continue to provide benefits such as company cars, holiday entitlement and medical insurance throughout maternity leave.
For practical advice on pay and benefits during maternity leave see our feature ‘Pay and benefits during maternity leave – the current law and how it is all about to change'.