Section 99 — Leave for family reasons.

(1) [F1 An employee who is dismissed shall be regarded for the purposes of this Part as unfairly dismissed if—]

(a) [F1 the reason or principal reason for the dismissal is of a prescribed kind, or]

(b) [F1 the dismissal takes place in prescribed circumstances.]

(2) [F1 In this section “ prescribed ” means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State. ]

(3) [F1 A reason or set of circumstances prescribed under this section must relate to—]

(a) [F1 pregnancy, childbirth or maternity,]

(aa) [F1 [F2 time off under section 57ZE,]]

(ab) [F1 [F3 time off under section 57ZJ or 57ZL,]]

(b) [F1 ordinary, compulsory or additional maternity leave,]

(ba) [F1 [F4 ordinary or additional adoption leave,]]

(bb) [F1 [F5 shared parental leave,]]

(bc) [F1 [F6 carer’s leave,]]

(c) [F1 parental leave,]

(ca) [F1 [F7 [F8 paternity leave],]]

(cb) [F1 [F9 parental bereavement leave,]]

(cc) [F1 [F10 neonatal care leave,] or]

(d) [F1 time off under section 57A;]

[F1 and it may also relate to redundancy or other factors.]

(4) [F1 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) [F1 takes,]

(b) [F1 agrees to take, or]

(c) [F1 refuses to take,]

[F1 under or in respect of a collective or workforce agreement which deals with parental leave.]

(5) [F1 Regulations under this section may—]

(a) [F1 make different provision for different cases or circumstances;]

(b) [F1 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.]

Amendment notes

1. 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)
2. 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)
3. 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)
4. 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
5. 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)
6. 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
7. 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)
8. 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)
9. 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
10. F10 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