The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 has now received Royal Assent, bringing it one step closer to the Act coming into full force. The Act will make bereaved parents entitled to paid leave following the death of a dependant.

This will be applicable if the child is under the age of 18 or following the death of a stillborn child after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

 

At present, employees have the right to ‘a day one ‘right to take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off, following the death of a dependant. It is at the discretion of the employer whether this leave is paid for.

 

This new legislation will be the first time that bereavement leave, of up to two weeks, has been made a legal right. Employees with 26 weeks’ continuous service will be entitled to it. This leave must be taken within 56 days of the child’s death.

 

More information on this legislation can be found here.

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