S/HR/35. EC Law: Maternity & Paternity Rights - The Impact on Human Resource Management Decision-Making

This essay gives a brief description of EC Law and then looks at various Directives surrounding the issue of Maternity and Paternity Rights and their impact on UK Law. The essay focuses particular attention on how the introduction of these Directives into UK Law will affect Human Resource Management Decision-Making and looks at the possible implications. The essay concludes by focusing on how these Directives contribute to the Governments objectives to improve working and living conditions.

S/HR/84. Maternity/Paternity leave

Nowadays, many women are facing problems at work with their employers even with their colleagues not because of their skin colour or their religion but only because of their pregnancy. It is known that most of the bosses do not want to employ women if they have planned to have children during their employment. Unfortunately, when the time comes for the maternity leave many women are kicked out or they find themselves that they have been made redundant. So, is it wrong then, for a woman during the time of her employment to have a baby or who is going to look after the new born baby while she is at work? What about the father then, can he go on paternity leave while the mother works? Then, what about the firms, and especially the small ones? Are not they going to struggle because of maternity and paternity pay?