Employers should begin to consider their policies in light of these new impending legislations

On 24 May 2023, three new Acts of Parliament deriving from Private Members Bills were give Royal Assent. The purpose of these Acts being introduced is to provide added protection for parents and carers during their employment.

These are the following: –

• The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act: This Act provides further enhanced protection rights to employees who are at the risk of redundancy while pregnant, on Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave, or Shared Paternal Leave and also for new parents that are returning back to employment. This is to protect new parents and expectant mothers from discrimination in the workplace as well as providing them with added job security.

• Carer’s Leave Act: This Act allows for employees who are caring for a dependent(s) with long-term care needs to be entitled to one week of flexible unpaid leave per year.

• The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act:  This allows for eligible employed parents whose newborn children have been admitted into neonatal care to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave. This is in addition to their usual family leave entitlements such as Maternity and Paternity Leave. 

The official date(s) of when these new acts of legislation will come into force has not yet been confirmed. However, the Government are now in the process of setting out further specifics, including secondary legislation.

Workers’ rights wins for parents and carers

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/workers-rights-wins-for-parents-and-carers