Family Focus

Women are already entitled to take a full year off, but what's new is that they'll still benefit from their normal terms and conditions throughout that year.

It's all about contractual benefits.

For Sarah Travers Newsline report click on the link below.

You'll now be able to build up holiday time during your full maternity leave; if you're fortunate and your employer provides private medical cover - you can keep that.

Likewise, if you drive a company car or have a mobile phone you can keep them too.

What doesn't automatically continue though is pay - workplaces have different maternity policies so the amount can vary.

But Statutory maternity pay stops at nine months.

So while many new parents would relish the prospect of a full year off - will they be able to afford to? Also small businesses are warning the new laws will place them under huge pressure.

To watch an interview with Chief Executive of the Equality Commission, Evelyn Collins click below.

Revised guidance on maternity leave and adoption leave can be found in the department's booklets ''Maternity Rights: A guide for employers and employees" (ER16) and "Adoptive Parents: A guide for employers and employees" (ER35) which are available for download from the link below.