The new Act, Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018, aims to create a statutory right for employed parents to, paid time off, work following the loss of a child under the age of 15.
The government has proposed the definition of “bereaved parent” as meaning all legal parents including all legal guardians or individuals with specific court orders. The regulations would allow for a single block of 2 weeks to be taken or two separate 1 week blocks and should be taken within 56 weeks of the date of the child’s death.
The Government is currently preparing draft regulations setting out the boundaries and details of the new statutory right, which is likely to be in effect by 2020.
