In the circumstances, it is necessary to include in the Bill a mechanism to deal with situations where an employee who falls ill wishes to benefit with her employer's agreement from sick leave arrangements rather than unpaid additional maternity leave. She must forfeit her right to the additional maternity leave that has not been taken. Otherwise, in view of the legal protection in place up to the end of the additional maternity leave, employers will not agree to allow employees split their additional maternity leave due to the risk of potentially extending maternity protection for the duration of a prolonged period of sick leave. The maternity review group, which included employer and employee representatives, clearly recognised the legal consequences of the transfer from additional maternity leave and its recommendation was construed accordingly.