Common use of Act 1973 Clause in Contracts

Act 1973. An eligible non-ongoing employee on maternity leave may access maternity leave arrangements until her contract of employment expires, or the maternity leave ceases, whichever occurs first. Periods of full paid leave during unpaid maternity leave will count as service for all purposes. Except in the case of periods of unpaid maternity leave in the first 12 weeks of leave, periods of unpaid maternity leave will not count as service for any purpose (leave credits will not accrue), but do not break the employee’s continuity of service. An eligible employee may spread the payment of up to 16 weeks maternity leave over a maximum of 32 weeks at a rate of half normal salary. Where an employee is not entitled to the maximum paid entitlement under the Maternity Leave Act the option for half pay will apply to the pro-rated entitlement. Periods taken at half pay will only count as service for the full time equivalent.