Page 44 - Bretland Group Employee Handbook Dec 2019 v.1

for which a person other than your employer has legal responsibility should you raise the matter with
a person not affiliated with the Company such as the Gardai, a Legal Advisor, the Minister, Revenue,
Health and Safety Authority or Social Services Department.

3.9 MATERNITY LEAVE AND MATERNITY BENEFIT
The following sections describe the Company's policy on maternity leave, maternity pay and paternity
leave/pay. The Company offers benefits and leave, which are in line with the statutory maternity
scheme. If you have any questions about this policy or about any other aspect of maternity rights, you
should contact a Senior Manager.

3.9.1 Time off for Ante - Natal Classes
A pregnant employee is entitled to time off from her work to the equivalent of the duration of the
class and not including travel time, without loss of pay to attend one set of antenatal classes (other
than the last 3 classes). In addition, an employee who is an expectant father of a child is entitled to
time off from work, without loss of pay to attend the last 2 antenatal classes in a set before the birth.
This is a once off entitlement for fathers in relation to one birth only.
In order to avail of this right a pregnant employee or an expectant father must:

a) notify a Senior Manager in writing, of the location, date and times of each class as soon as
practicable and in any event not later than 2 weeks before the date of the relevant class; and

b) Produce on request an appropriate document indicating the dates and time of the classes or
the date and time of the relevant class.

If you through no fault of your own do not comply with (a) and (b) above, you must, not later than 1
week after the date of the class concerned provide a Senior Manager with evidence of your having
attended the class and indicate the circumstances which caused you not to be able to comply with the
requisite notification. If you are unable to attend one full set of classes (other than the last 3) during
a pregnancy due to circumstances beyond your control, including:
• miscarriage;
• the premature birth of the baby concerned; or
• illness

You are entitled during a subsequent pregnancy to such time off from work without loss of pay, as is
necessary to attend the class.

3.9.2 Time off for antenatal and postnatal care
You are entitled to take paid time off during your normal working hours for medical or related
appointments (defined as appointments for the purpose of an examination or test under the direction
of a registered medical practitioner) and you are also entitled to take paid time off for medical or
related appointments up to 22 weeks after the birth of your child (at least two weeks of your minimum
period of maternity leave of twenty six weeks must be taken before, and four weeks taken after the
birth of your child), although wherever possible you should arrange your appointments at the start or
end of your working day to minimise disruption to the Company.

3.9.3 Qualifying Conditions
In order to avail of paid time off as specified above, you must notify the Company of the appointment
as soon as practicable, and in any event not later than two weeks before the date of the appointment
unless this is not possible through no fault of your own.

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