Parental Bereavement Leave

Louise Walker
Legal Director
View Profile

Further to our JEL alert of 24 January 2020, last week saw the introduction into UK law of the new employee right to take parental bereavement leave.

The key terms of this new right are as follows:

• Eligible employees are entitled to take two weeks’ parental bereavement leave anytime within the first 56 weeks after the death or stillbirth of the child occurring on or after 6th April 2020;
• This right to leave arises on the death of a child under the age of 18 and in the event of stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy;
• The leave can be taken as one complete week, two consecutive weeks or two separate weeks, starting on any day of the week;
• Different notification requirements arise depending on when, within the 56 weeks, the employee wishes to take the leave;
• Those who meet certain eligibility criteria (including six months’ continuous service) shall be entitled to statutory parental bereavement pay at the prescribed statutory rate; and
• Employees are protected from suffering detriment or dismissal as a result of exercising their right to take such leave.

If you would like to discuss this new type of leave, or you would like us to help you to update your bereavement policy to address the new right, or if you need support on any other employment law matters, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the team on 0141 331 5150.

Topics: Parental Bereavement Leave