Photograph: iStockI recently returned to work from maternity leave to be issued with a notice of redundancy. After being put on notice of redundancy on my first day back after maternity leave, I was surprised and I immediately asked what happened to the role. You go out of your way to ring-circle that person on maternity leave and keep them,” she says, describing it as a “nearly sacrosanct protection”. Under the Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004, those on maternity leave must be offered any suitable alternative role in priority to other employees. “Where a company is shutting down a whole department, and if someone’s out on maternity leave, they’re vulnerable.

Source: The Irish Times March 18, 2026 19:01 UTC