Overview

This bill amends the Employment Rights Act 1996 to give employees more leave to care for disabled or ill dependants. It allows the government to create regulations specifying the details of this leave, such as the amount of time allowed and how it can be taken.

Description

The bill primarily modifies Section 57A of the Employment Rights Act 1996. Key changes include extending "time off for dependants" to cover employees caring for disabled dependants, in addition to those who are ill.

New Regulations

The bill introduces a new Section 57AA, granting the Secretary of State the power to create regulations via statutory instrument. These regulations will specify:

• How the leave entitlement applies to employees with different lengths of service.
• What constitutes "caring" for a dependant.
• Whether leave must be taken as a single block or in multiple periods.
• Maximum leave duration and aggregate periods.
• Employee rights regarding pay, benefits, and job security during leave.

These regulations require approval from both Houses of Parliament before taking effect.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending figures. The financial impact will depend on the regulations created under Section 57AA, which will determine the cost of leave to employers and potentially the government (through any associated benefits schemes).

Groups Affected

The bill will primarily affect:

• Employees: Those with ill or disabled dependants will gain access to additional leave. The exact impact will depend on the regulations.
• Employers: Increased leave entitlements will impact operational costs and may require adjustments to staffing and scheduling.
• Dependants: Those who are ill or disabled will benefit from having a carer available for more time off.

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