Overview

This bill proposes a new statutory right to parental bereavement leave and pay for employees who have lost a child. It aims to provide grieving parents with time off work to cope with their loss and support their family.

Description

The Parental Bereavement Leave (Statutory Entitlement) Bill amends the Employment Rights Act 1996 and the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 to introduce a new entitlement to parental bereavement leave and pay.

Leave Entitlement:

Employees meeting specified conditions (duration of employment and relationship to the deceased child) will be entitled to at least two weeks' leave to grieve and support other parents. The Secretary of State will define eligible individuals, including parents identified on birth certificates, step-parents, adoptive parents, and foster carers. The regulations will also determine the evidence required from employees to verify their entitlement. The leave is only available if the child’s death occurred more than 56 days after birth, and exceptions may be made for multiple child deaths occurring simultaneously.

Pay Entitlement:

During leave, employees will be entitled to pay at a rate of no less than 90% of their average weekly earnings or £139.58 per week, whichever is lower. Employers are not prevented from paying more.

Employee Rights:

Employees on leave retain their employment rights and conditions, except for remuneration. They are also entitled to return to a job of a similar kind. Regulations will detail protections during leave, including against redundancy and dismissal.

Government Spending

The bill will increase government spending due to the introduction of statutory parental bereavement pay. Exact figures are not provided in the bill itself and would depend on the number of claims and the average weekly earnings of claimants.

Groups Affected

• Employees: Those who lose a child will gain a new statutory right to paid leave.
• Employers: Will be legally obligated to grant leave and pay, potentially incurring additional costs.
• Parents: Bereaved parents will directly benefit from the leave and financial support provided.
• Government: Will face increased expenditure to fund the parental bereavement pay scheme.

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