Acas and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have published a new guide to help employers understand the rights of women who are pregnant, or on maternity leave, when facing redundancy. News from Simons Muirhead & Burton

Employers and employees seeking advice on pregnancy or maternity and redundancy issues make more than 15,000 calls a year to Acas’ helpline. Unfair dismissal or detriment related to being pregnant or on maternity leave accounted for 1,900 tribunal cases in 2011-12. This has lead Acas and the EHRC to publish a new guide, Managing redundancy for pregnant employees or those on maternity leave, which outlines what the law says and gives advice on how to handle the situation correctly. It sets out four important questions the employer should ask when considering which posts to make redundant: Is the redundancy genuine? How do I consult employees on maternity leave? How do I decide the right selection criteria? Is there a suitable alternative vacancy?

Acas and the EHRC believe the guide will clear up confusion amongst employers about managing an employee who is pregnant when their role is genuinely being made redundant and will help supervisors and managers to understand the specific rights of pregnant women and women on maternity leave.