23rd October 2017
There is currently no legal obligation for employers to allow parents paid time off to grieve after losing a child. Many employers do provide paid time off and are flexible in their approach, however the length of time offered varies significantly between employers.
The Bill passed a second reading in Parliament on 20th October, and is likely to become law in 2020.
No service qualification for Leave
The new Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill will entitle parents who lose a child under the age of 18 to two weeks’ paid leave regardless of their service length.
Service Qualification for Pay
Employees with a minimum of 26 weeks’ continuous service will also be eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay, for which employers will be able to reclaim some or all of the cost. For employers, this is an opportunity to review current bereavement leave policies and consider how bereaved employees are supported.
If you need further information on this or any other HR related issue please contact Louise on 07949 552403 or email her at louise@indigohr.com
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