Click here to read the full article: Labour extends bereavement leave for families faced with pregnancy loss – International Employment Lawyer
James’ comments have been published below with kind permission.
“Employees that suffer bereavement, who are adversely impacted and become unwell, already have a right to take unpaid time off for sickness – this much trumpeted reform, providing a right to a week’s unpaid leave only, does little to change the status quo,” says Payne Hicks Beach’s James Townsend.
Monday’s amendments form part of the biggest uplift in workplace rights in a generation, set to benefit around half of all UK workers. But political haggling over many of the bill’s key provisions has led to much delay already.
“Twenty-eight reforms, many of which are significant, have been proposed under the government’s Employment Rights Bill – delaying the implementation of key reforms, in particular those relating to service requirements for unfair dismissal and zero hours contracts until 2027 have been welcomed by employers,” notes Townsend.
Today’s announcement follows the launch of the landmark Parental Leave and Pay Review last week, which will look at ways to fix the parental leave system for millions of parents so that it delivers a better start to life for all children.
For further information, please contact James Townsend or your usual contact in the Employment Department.
