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KEEPING IN TOUCH DAYS
02/03/2007
Keeping in Touch days
Liz McCaw of ICAS and Anna Hayward of Managing Maternity Ltd shed some light on the new ‘KIT’ days that apply to women whose babies are due (or adopted) on or after 1 April 2007.
What are they?
- Subject to agreement between employer and employee, Keeping in Touch Days (KIT days) are up to 10 days when women can carry out work for the employer during the maternity leave period and be paid, under their contract of employment. Previously, any work undertaken during maternity leave brought maternity leave to an end.
- The type of work is agreed between the two parties. It can be any activity that would normally be classed as work under the woman’s contract. KIT days can be useful in planning and phasing a successful return to work and enhancing good communication, allowing opportunities for training, team meetings and conferences.
Important points
- An employer can not require an employee to work during maternity leave if she does not want to. Women do not have the right to work KIT days if the employer does not agree to them.
- KIT days are different to the reasonable contact that employers and employees may make with one another during maternity leave, as during KIT days employees can carry out actual work for the employer, for which they will be paid.
Benefits for the employer and employee
“Employers are seeing the benefits of KIT days as an excellent way of meeting business needs by establishing a firm foundation for a smooth return to work,” says Anna Hayward, director at Managing Maternity Ltd.
“We’re helping organisations plan days which combine communication and training needs. Women have the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills, re-establish contacts and keep pace with developments. They gain some really useful skills to manage the balance between new motherhood and work successfully, whilst establishing supportive internal networks.”
Click here to read the full article
First published in theHRDIRECTOR magazine, Issue 33, February 07. Reproduced with permission.
- © ICAS