This Act gives extra rights to employed parents who lose a child during leave with respect to minimum leave from work as well as the required pay over that time period. Previously, whilst there was a statutory right to reasonable time off work without pay to deal with circumstances such as the death of a dependant, there was no specific entitlement to time off work (paid or otherwise) for parents following the death of a child or a miscarriage, and some employers allow parents to take compassionate leave, which was at the discretion of the employer; there was therefore no minimum standard observed by all employers.
Through this Act the introduction of a specific, statutory entitlement to parental bereavement leave and pay will set a minimum standard for employees and employers. The intention is to provide certainty for employed parents and employers in relation to parents’ right to paid time off work following the death of a child or a miscarriage.
