Changes to maternity laws will see small firms face an extra financial burden, it has been claimed.
According to Stephanie Dale, head of employment law at Stevens and Bolton, the fact that employers now have to provide non-cash benefits for the full period of maternity leave will create problems, reports Smallbusiness.co.uk.
Speaking to the news provider, she said: "There is a particular implication for small employers here especially with things such as the popular childcare salary voucher scheme."
However, the government claims that the extra costs were acknowledged in its impact assessment conducted before the legislation was proposed.
The new law comes into force for all employees who are expected to give birth on or after October 5th 2008.
Yesterday, the Newcastle Journal reported that the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act (2008) should cut the regulatory burden of small firms.
It will also allow bodies to pursue companies through the civil courts if regulations are breached.
