It's all too common for firms, especially SMEs, to make errors when it comes to employees returning after maternity leave, resulting in claims of unlawful discrimination. Helen Imbusi, head of HR consultancy at the HR Dept, outlined the statutory protections in place for parents returning from maternity leave. Ms Imbusi mentioned a recent incident where a client sought to make an employee redundant during maternity leave despite other roles being potentially available. In addition to maternity leave, businesses can also face issues in other areas such as informal restructures, disciplinary procedures, and performance management without adhering to statutory codes of practice. The HR Dept says that obtaining early advice is far more cost-effective than attempting to resolve legal disputes after they occur.