Editor's message: The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023 has received Royal Assent, paving the way for important changes to the right to be offered a suitable alternative vacancy on redundancy in certain circumstances.
The right currently applies only to employees who are absent on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave during the redundancy process.
In relation to pregnancy and maternity leave, the Government is to change the law to extend this redundancy protection period:
A similar extended protection period is expected to be introduced for those returning from adoption leave and shared parental leave.
Given that further details of the extended protection need to be set out in accompanying Regulations (not yet published), the changes are unlikely to come into effect until 2024.
Stephen Simpson, principal HR strategy and practice editor
HR and legal information and guidance relating to redundancy.
Access our main resources on redundancy according to the type of information you need.