Due to enter the second reading stage in Parliament later this week, the “Parental Bereavement Leave (Statutory Entitlement) Bill 2016 – 17” is seeking to introduce a statutory entitlement to 2 weeks’ paid leave for any employee who suffers the loss of a child.
Unlike many other countries, in the UK there is no minimum entitlement to bereavement leave. There is a requirement for an employer to give unpaid emergency leave to take action required due to a dependent’s death but this is only expected to cover leave for funeral arrangements rather than actual time to grieve. In practice, employees often rely on a mixture of sick leave, annual leave and their employer’s compassion which will inevitably vary from employer to employer.
It is not a certainty that the Bill will become law and, in fact, many Private Members Bills do not as less time is allocated to them. However, if it does, employers will need to adjust their existing policies and procedures accordingly. We will keep you updated…