Overview

This bill aims to amend existing laws on shared parental leave and pay in the UK. Specifically, it removes conditions that prevent eligibility for shared parental leave and pay if one parent dies before the leave begins.

Description

The Shared Parental Leave and Pay (Bereavement) Bill modifies the Shared Parental Leave Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3050) and the Statutory Shared Parental Pay (General) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/3051). Currently, eligibility for shared parental leave and pay hinges on both parents' continuous employment. This bill removes this requirement when one parent dies before the leave period commences, ensuring the surviving parent can access these benefits. The changes apply to both birth and adoption scenarios. The bill also mandates that future regulations relating to shared parental leave and pay maintain this principle of providing equivalent entitlements in bereavement circumstances.

Government Spending

The bill states that any expenditure incurred under or by virtue of the act, and any increased sums payable under any other act attributable to this act, will be paid out of money provided by Parliament. No specific figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:
• **Surviving parents:** This bill grants surviving parents access to shared parental leave and pay, regardless of employment continuity, if their partner dies before the leave begins. This provides crucial financial and emotional support during bereavement.
• **Employers:** Employers will need to adjust their internal processes to comply with the revised regulations regarding shared parental leave and pay entitlements in bereavement circumstances.
• **Government:** The government will bear the financial burden of the increased shared parental leave and pay claims.

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