STATEMENT OF POLICY
This Maternity Leave Policy (“Policy”) is framed as per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017. Inscripts (I) Private Limited (hereinafter “Inscripts”) provides benefits under this Policy for the first two deliveries, that shall be applicable for a period of up to 26 (twenty-six) weeks (8 weeks prior and 18 weeks post-delivery) of maternity leave of which not more than 8 (eight) weeks shall precede the day of her expected delivery (“Maternity Leave”).
PURPOSE
The Objective of this Policy is to provide maternity leave related guidelines, procedures and entitlements to the women employees of Inscripts, and to give the new mothers additional flexibility and time to bond with their child and adjust to their new family situation. We at Inscripts believe that a flexible and family-friendly policy is essential in cultivating an atmosphere where employees can thrive professionally, without sacrificing essential family obligations.
ELIGIBILITY
This policy is applicable to:
All full-time women employees working at Inscripts for a period not less than eighty days in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of their expected delivery.
LEAVE PROVISIONS
Ø Employees shall be entitled to maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily salary of the employee for the duration of the Maternity Leave, which may be the period immediately preceding the date of delivery, the actual date of delivery, or any period immediately following the date of delivery.
Ø The maximum period of maternity benefits a woman employee having two or more than two surviving children shall be entitled to, is 12 (twelve) weeks, of which not more than 6 (six) weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery.
Ø An employee who legally adopts a child below the age of 3 (three) months or a commissioning mother (a biological mother who uses her egg to create an embryo implanted in any other woman) shall be entitled to maternity benefit for a period of 12 (twelve) weeks from the date the child is handed over to the adopting mother or the commissioning mother.
Ø In the event of a miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy, the employee, on production of proof in writing to the Human Resource Department at Inscripts, from a competent medical authority, shall be eligible to Maternity Leave with salary payable at the rate of Maternity Benefit for a period of 6 (six) weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy.
Ø In the event the employee is to undergo a tubectomy operation, she shall be eligible to leave, on production of proof in writing from a competent medical authority, in addition to the Maternity Leave allowed to her under this Policy, for a period of 2 (two) weeks immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation.
Ø In the event the employee suffers from any illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery or the premature birth of a child, on production of proof in writing from a competent medical authority, she shall be eligible to, in addition to the period of Maternity Leave allowed to her under this Policy, leave with salary payable at the rate of Maternity Benefit for a maximum period of 1 (one) month.
Ø In case where the nature of work assigned to an employee is such that they may work from home, the employee, post written approval from the Human Resource Department at Inscripts, may seek permission to work from home after availing of the maternity benefit for a period of 10 days.
Ø Maternity Leave cannot be en-cashed or adjusted against any other leave.
Ø Any exception over and above the Maternity Leave or additional leaves availed under this Policy, shall require the prior approval of the Human Resource Department.
Ø Multiple births or adoptions in the case of the employee does not increase the duration of Maternity Leave.
Ø Upon termination of employment, the employee shall not be eligible for any payment or benefits for any unused Maternity Leave.
Ø Inscripts shall take disciplinary action at its sole discretion, up to and including termination, against an employee who uses Maternity Leave for purposes other than those described in this Policy, including but not limited to working for any other establishment during the period of Maternity Leave.
Ø The Maternity Leave of 26 (twenty-six) weeks can be broken into pre-delivery and post-delivery, provided a medical certificate from a competent medical authority is submitted to Human Resource Department with the date of her expected delivery.
Ø An employee who intends to avail Maternity Leave must submit Form 1 (Notice to Employer) and Form 2 (Certificate from Medical Practitioner) to the Human Resource Department of Inscripts in accordance with the Maharashtra Maternity Benefit Rules, 1965.
Ø Calculation of Maternity Leave under this Policy is from January to December and is credited on the 1st of January of each year.
CRECHE FACILITY
Ø Inscripts shall provide crèche facility as and when applicable as stipulated under the Section 11A of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
Inscripts may, at its sole discretion, change, amend, revise, modify or update this Policy as and when required, and in consonance with any further amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. In the event of such an amendment, the same shall be intimated to all employees on our intranet, or via e-mail sent to their official e-mail accounts.