Explore our collection of resources around parental rights, including commonly-asked questions and relevant case law, and download infographics on what you need to know about maternity leave and pay.
Employees are entitled to a range of rights in relation to children. CIPD members can log in below to get information on:
Please note there is a dedicated law page for information on pregnancy and maternity discrimination and separate legal information on health and safety for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Overall, the rights highlighted apply in Great Britain (GB). Separate provisions are used in Northern Ireland, some of which mirror GB legislation, others which do not.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 has changed some parental rights. Keep up to date with the latest on these changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025 tracker.
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Please note: While every care has been taken in compiling this content, CIPD cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. These notes are not intended to be a substitute for specific legal advice.
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Use our range of practical tools, including flowcharts and checklists, to help you manage maternity, paternity, parental and other types of family-related leave
Advice for managers on how they can help to manage maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental leave and parental bereavement leave
Guidance to help HR practitioners manage family leave in their organisation
Introduces maternity and paternity rights, shared parental leave and adoption rights in the UK
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Keep up to date with what is changing under the Employment Rights Act 2025, the Equality (Race and Disability) Bill and the plan to Make Work Pay
