The Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill has been introduced into Parliament with the aim of it becoming law in 2020. The Bill is accompanied by Explanatory Notes providing further details. The Bill provides a day-one right to Parental Bereavement Leave (PBL) for parents to be absent from work for a minimum of two weeks following the death of a child aged under 18. Bereaved parents would also be entitled to a statutory flat rate of pay (currently £140.98 a week) or 90% of their average weekly earnings per week (whichever is lower), in respect of the two weeks’ leave, subject to a 26 weeks’ continuous service requirement by the end of the week before the week of the child’s death and that in the 8 weeks before this week the average weekly earnings are not less than the Lower Earnings Limit.  Parents taking PBL will be protected from dismissal or detriment.

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