For the first time employed parents who lose a child under the age of 18 will have the right to two weeks’ paid leave to allow them time to grieve under measures announced by the government today.
There is currently no legal requirement for employers to provide paid time off for grieving parents.
But under proposed new laws, for the first time employed parents who lose a child under the age of 18 will have the right to two weeks’ paid leave to allow them time to grieve.
The Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill, introduced by Kevin Hollinrake MP and supported by the Government, will give a day-one right to parental bereavement leave and employees with a minimum of 26 weeks’ continuous service will be eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay.
Kevin Hollinrake MP, bill sponsor, said:
Sadly I have had constituents who have gone through this dreadful experience and while some parents prefer to carry on working, others need time off.
This new law will give employed parents a legal right to two weeks’ paid leave, giving them that all-important time and space away from work to grieve at such a desperately sad time.
