Section 99 Leave for family reasons.F1

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if—

(a)

the reason or principal reason for the dismissal is of a prescribed kind, or

(b)

the dismissal takes place in prescribed circumstances.

(2)

In this section “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(3)

A reason or set of circumstances prescribed under this section must relate to—

(a)

pregnancy, childbirth or maternity,

(F2aa)

time off under section 57ZE,

(F3ab)

time off under section 57ZJ or 57ZL,

(b)

ordinary, compulsory or additional maternity leave,

(F4ba)

ordinary or additional adoption leave,

(F5bb)

shared parental leave,

(F6bc)

carer’s leave,

(c)

parental leave,

(F7ca)

F8paternity leave,

(F9cb)

~~F10parental~~ bereavement leave,

(F11cc)

neonatal care leave, or

(d)

time off under section 57A;

and it may also relate to redundancy or other factors.

(4)

A reason or set of circumstances prescribed under subsection (1) satisfies subsection (3)(c) or (d) if it relates to action which an employee—

(a)

takes,

(b)

agrees to take, or

(c)

refuses to take,

under or in respect of a collective or workforce agreement which deals with parental leave.

(5)

Regulations under this section may—

(a)

make different provision for different cases or circumstances;

(b)

apply any enactment, in such circumstances as may be specified and subject to any conditions specified, in relation to persons regarded as unfairly dismissed by reason of this section.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: S. 99 substituted (15.12.1999) by 1999 c. 26, s. 9, Sch. 4 Pt. III para. 16; S.I. 1999/2830, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. II (with Sch. 3 paras. 10, 11)
F2: S. 99(3)(aa) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 127(2)(b), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(i)
F3: S. 99(3)(ab) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), ss. 128(2)(c), 139(6); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(1)(j)
F4: S. 99(3)(ba) inserted (8.12.2002) by Employment Act 2002 (c. 22), s. 53, Sch. 7 para. 33(2); S.I. 2002/2866, art. 2(2), Sch. 1 Pt. 2
F5: S. 99(3)(bb) inserted (30.6.2014) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 7 para. 39(a); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 3(2)(i)
F6: S. 99(3)(bc) inserted (4.12.2023) by Carer’s Leave Act 2023 (c. 18), s. 3(3), Sch. para. 8; S.I. 2023/1283, reg. 2
F7: S. 99(3)(ca) substituted (3.3.2010) by Work and Families Act 2006 (c. 18), ss. 11, 19, Sch. 1 para. 41; S.I. 2010/495, art. 3(c)
F8: Words in s. 99(3)(ca) substituted (5.4.2015) by Children and Families Act 2014 (c. 6), s. 139(6), Sch. 7 para. 39(b); S.I. 2014/1640, art. 7(t) (with art. 16)
F9: S. 99(3)(cb) inserted (18.1.2020) by Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 (c. 24), s. 2(2), Sch. para. 27; S.I. 2020/45, reg. 2
F10: Word in s. 99(3)(cb) omitted (6.1.2026 for specified purposes) by virtue of Employment Rights Act 2025 (c. 36), ss. 18(10), 159(3); S.I. 2026/3, reg. 2(9)(b)
F11: S. 99(3)(cc) inserted (17.1.2025) by Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023 (c. 20), s. 3(3), Sch. para. 28; S.I. 2025/41, reg. 2

Notes on the whole Act

Textual amendments

F1: Part 2B heading and s. 27C inserted (E.W.S.) (31.7.2023 for specified purposes, 1.10.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 (c. 13), ss. 1, 14(2); S.I. 2023/876, reg. 3(a); S.I. 2024/829, reg. 3(a)

Notes on Part X

Modifications

C1

Ss. 66-68, 70-71, 92-93, Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (E.W.) (2.3.1998) by S.I. 1998/218, art. 3, Sch.

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) applied (with modifications) (E.W.) by S.I. 1998/218, art. 4(b)

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (1.1.1999) by 1998 Measure No. 1, s. 6(1), Sch. 3 para. 3(1)(2); Instrument dated 14.10.1998 made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (6.6.2000) by 1992 c. 52, s. 70A, Sch. A1 para. 161(1), 162 (as inserted (6.6.2000) by 1999 c. 26, s. 1, Sch. 1; S.I. 2000/1338, art. 2(a))

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (4.9.2000) by 1999 c. 26, ss. 12(3)(6), (with ss. 14, 15); S.I. 2000/2242, art. 2(1)

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (24.4.2000) by 1992 c. 52, s. 238A(2) (as inserted (24.4.2000) by 1999 c. 26, ss. 16, Sch. 5 para. 3; S.I. 2000/875, art. 2 (with transitional provision in art. 3))

Pt. 10 (ss. 94-134) modified (E.W.) (1.9.1999) by S.I. 1999/2256, arts. 3, 4(b), Sch.

C2