BPPL: Returning to work

Rights when returning to work

An employee has the right return from BPPL to a job with the same seniority, pension rights and similar rights. They will also have the right to return on terms and conditions (including remuneration) that are as favourable as they would have been had they not taken BPPL.

Right to return to same or alternative job after BPPL

Following BPPL, an employee is entitled to return to the same job that they had before taking BPPL if any one of the following is true:

• They took up to 26 weeks of BPPL (and no other form of statutory family leave immediately before).
• They took up to 4 weeks of parental leave, immediately followed by up to 26 weeks of BPPL.
• The BPPL immediately followed a period (or periods) of any other type of statutory family leave (except parental leave) for the same child, and the total leave taken was 26 weeks or less.

If none of these are true, an employee is still entitled to return to the same job unless it's not reasonably practicable for you to allow it. If it's not, the employee will still be entitled to return to another job that is both suitable and appropriate for them to do in the circumstances.

An employee returning to work may make a request to work flexibly, e.g. to work from home or do part-time hours. You should consider this in line with your procedures.