Parents who lose a child to be granted bereavement leave

By Carol Fish Head of Personal Injury

Working parents who lose a child will soon be entitled to claim parental leave.

The new Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Act will give all employed parents the right to two weeks’ leave if they lose a child under the age of 18 or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Employed parents will also be able to claim pay for this period, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.

The government-backed bill was introduced into parliament in July 2017 as a private member’s bill by Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton. He said: “Losing a child is the most dreadful and unimaginable experience that any parent could suffer, and it is right that grieving parents will now be given time to start to come to terms with their loss.”

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said: “This law makes Parental Bereavement Leave a legal right for the first time in the UK’s history.”

The new law is expected to come into force in 2020.

Carol says “Having acted in a number of accident cases sadly involving the loss of a child I would certainly welcome this new legislation.  Clarity as regards earnings and work leave will no doubt provide some benefit to parents at a time when they are traumatised by their loss and needing time to process the situation”.

For more information on the issues raised in this article or for advice on fatal accident cases please contact Carol on 01228 516666 or click here to email her direct.