Government of Jersey

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A decision made 18 June 2010 regarding: Family Friendly Employment Rights - Law drafting instructions.

Decision Reference: MD-S-2010-0030
Decision Summary Title :	DS - Family Friendly Law Drafting Request		Date of Decision Summary:	18 June 2010
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR - Family Friendly Law Drafting Request		Date of Written Report:	18 June 2010
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Law drafting instructions for family friendly employment rights.
Decision(s): The Minister approved instructions for the drafting of legislation that would give employees family friendly rights in the workplace, including; the right for pregnant women to paid time off work for antenatal appointments, the right for parents to take periods of unpaid maternity, paternity and adoption leave and the right to return to their job after that leave, the right to request a change to working conditions for employees with caring responsibilities, as well as associated protection against dismissal on grounds of claiming these rights.
Reason(s) for Decision: Having consulted with the public on the introduction of legislation relating to family friendly working polices, the Employment Forum issued recommendations to the former Social Security Minister in June 2008 proposing a basic minimum set of rights in Stage 1, with a second stage of legislation that would build on those rights. The Minister has agreed that the Forum’s recommendations for Stage 1 should be drafted, with the addition of a right that the Forum had included in Stage 2; the right to request a change to working conditions for employees with caring responsibilities.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications of the drafting instructions. Drafting time has been allocated in 2010. The proposed changes to Social Security benefits do have financial implications. Those provisions will be drafted but will not be enacted until the Department has reviewed the impact and cost.
Action required: Policy Principal to submit instructions to the Law Draftsman’s Office.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):