New employment rights for shared parental leave and parental bereavement leave

Changes will come in from 1 November this year

New employment rights for shared parental leave and parental bereavement leave will take effect from 1 November.

Shared parental leave will enable parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave to care for a new baby in the first 12 months of their baby’s life. 

Both maternity and paternity leave will still be available as options for new parents.

As part of the changes, parents will be entitled to take an additional two weeks’ leave following the death of a child under the age of 18, including cases of stillbirth. 

Treasury Minister, Dr Alex Allinson explains the rationale behind the changes: