Jargon buster
Additional Adoption Leave (AAL)
Adoption leave is split into two parts – the first six months is called Ordinary Adoption Leave, the second six months is called Additional Adoption Leave. The only real difference these days is about the rights you have to go back to work. If you go back during the first six months (during ordinary adoption leave), then you have a right to return to exactly the same job that you had before leave. If you are taking more than six months leave you have a right to return to the same job, unless it is no longer available, in which case you must be given a similar job with the same pay and conditions.
Additional Maternity Leave (AML)
Maternity leave is split into two parts – the first six months is called Ordinary Maternity Leave, the second six months is called Additional Maternity Leave. The only real difference these days is about the rights you have to go back to work. If you go back during the first six months (during ordinary maternity leave), then you have a right to return to exactly the same job that you had before leave. If you are taking more than six months leave you have a right to return to the same job, unless it is no longer available, in which case you must be given a similar job with the same pay and conditions.
Employee
See How do I know if I am an employee for more details.
Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC)
This is the week that your baby is due. For these purposes, the week begins on a Sunday.
Flexible working
This means changing your hours or working from home, or working a different number hours on different weeks etc. If you have a child under 16, you have a right to ask to change your hours. See Changing your hours or how you work for more details.
Ordinary Adoption Leave (OAL)
Adoption leave is split into two parts – the first six months is called Ordinary Adoption Leave, and if you go back to work during this period then you have the right to return to exactly the same job that you had before leave.
Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML)
Maternity leave is split into two parts – the first six months is called Ordinary Maternity Leave, and if you go back to work during this period then you have the right to return to exactly the same job that you had before leave.
Parental Leave
This is a right to take longer periods of time off to look after your child. See Taking time off for more details.
Statutory
This means the rights that the law gives you. Your contract may give you extra rights. Your contract cannot give you fewer rights than the law gives you.
Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP)
Pay that your employer might have to pay you by law whilst you are on adoption leave. You may have rights that are more generous in your contract. See I'm adopting - what will I be entitled to? for more details.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP)
Pay that your employer might have to pay you by law whilst you are on maternity leave. You may have rights that are more generous in your contract. See What maternity pay will I get? for more details.
Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP)
Pay that your employer might have to pay you by law whilst you are on paternity leave for 1 or 2 weeks. You may have rights that are more generous in your contract. See I’m about to become a dad – what am I entitled to? for more details.
Time off for dependents
This is a right employees have to take time off to deal with emergencies affecting close family members. You can use this right to take time off to look after your child when they are sick or when the person who normally cares for them cannot look after them. See Taking time off for more details.
Worker
A legal term for people who work for somebody else (rather than being self-employed). See How do I know if I am an employee for more details.
