Reading: Employment Rights
Maternity leave
Sheila had a baby recently. Sheila took maternity leave but she forgot to let her employer know that she was going to return to work. She thought her employer knew she was going back after her leave. She had called to the workplace about 2 months before she was due to return and was sure she said she would be coming back.
However, when she did return, her employer told her that she had been replaced and would not take her back. Her employer said that the proper notice saying she was going to return after her leave had not been given in writing. What rights does Sheila have?
Sheila, by law, needed to give at least 4 weeks' written notice that she was going to return to work. She did not do this and is in real danger of losing her right to return to work. Sheila can find out what her rights are and if she can do anything about her situation by getting in touch with her local Citizen's Information Centre.
Now see if you can answer the questions on the next page about Sheila's situation.
