Parents and carers will be provided with new employment rights as a result of three Bills which have received Royal Assent.
In the Government’s announcement, it states that:
“…these new laws will help to increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers, and level the playing field by ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a competitive advantage and delivering on our priority to grow the economy.”
Business Minister, Kevin Hollinrake, commented on the new legislation:
“Over the past year, we have proven our commitment to supporting workers across the UK, including raising the national living wage to its highest yet. Protecting and enhancing workers’ rights whilst supporting businesses to grow remains a priority for this government and a dynamic labour helps to drive up wages, employment and economic growth.”
Below, we have provided details of the newly approved legislation and the new employment rights being afforded to parents and carers.
New employment rights for parents and carers
Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023
This Act will allow parents to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave as well as other parental leave entitlements for example, maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave. This will allow parents to spend more time with their babies and will also stop parents from feeling the pressure to go back to work when their baby is still undergoing hospital care.
Once the Act has been implemented, neonatal care leave will be a “day one right”. It will also apply to parents of babies who are admitted into hospital up to the age of 28 days, and who have been in hospital constantly for seven days or more.
The Act will help parents, especially with the rising cost of living. It will help ease the emotional pressure as well as some financial pressures parents are dealing with due to them having to continuously take unpaid leave to be with their child.
Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act 2023
This Act will extend existing redundancy protections while someone is on maternity, adoption, or shared parental leave to also include pregnancy and a period after someone has returned to work after becoming a new parent.
In the Government’s announcement, it has referred to research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission which revealed that roughly one in nine mothers were either sacked, made redundant, or forced out of their jobs due to the way they were treated by their employers. The protection from this Act will enhance existing protections to protect pregnant women and new parents.
Carers’ Leave Act 2023
This new legislation will create a new statutory entitlement for workers who are caring for a dependant with long-term care needs to one week of flexible unpaid leave every year.
According to the charity Carers UK, roughly two million workers in the UK are currently juggling paid employment with unpaid caring responsibilities.
When will the new legislation be implemented?
The Government has stated that it intends to lay down secondary legislation “in due course” to roll out these new entitlements for workers.
How can we help
Kate Frisby is a Trainee Solicitor at Nelsons.
For advice on or further information in relation to the subjects discussed in this article, please contact Kate or a member of our expert Employment Law team in Derby, Leicester, or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form.
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