Overview

This bill proposes to introduce a new statutory right to bereavement leave and pay for employees whose close family member has died. It aims to provide a minimum standard of support for employees during a difficult time.

Description

The Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill creates two key entitlements:

Bereavement Leave

Part 1 of the Schedule amends the Employment Rights Act 1996 to create a statutory entitlement to bereavement leave. This leave will be a minimum of two weeks and must be taken within 56 days of the family member's death. The Secretary of State will set the specifics through regulations, including defining "close family member" and detailing how the leave is to be taken. Employees on leave retain most employment benefits (excluding pay) and are entitled to return to a similar job upon their return.

Bereavement Pay

Part 2 amends the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. It introduces a statutory entitlement to bereavement pay for eligible employees. Eligibility requires at least 26 weeks of continuous employment before the relevant week (the week before the death), and normal weekly earnings above a certain threshold. The amount and duration of pay (minimum two weeks) will be determined via regulations. This pay does not affect any contractual rights to remuneration the employee might have.

Government Spending

The bill will result in increased government spending as a result of the new entitlement to bereavement pay. The exact cost will depend on the final regulations regarding pay rates and eligibility criteria. No specific figures are included in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Employees: Will gain a new statutory right to bereavement leave and potentially bereavement pay, providing support following the death of a close family member.
• Employers: Will be required to provide bereavement leave and pay to eligible employees, potentially increasing their administrative burden and payroll costs.
• Government: Will incur additional costs associated with the bereavement pay scheme.

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