An increase in Parent’s Leave comes into effect
The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 which was introduced on 1st November 2019, originally provided new parents, with two weeks of Parent’s leave (paid via Parent’s Benefit) each, to enable them to provide or assist in the provision of care to a child.
The Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 later extended this to five weeks in April 2021.
Extension of Leave 2022
Parent’s Leave has now been extended from five weeks to seven weeks for children born or adopted after 1st July 2022.
Employees can claim the additional 2 weeks' parent’s leave if their child is under the age of 2 on 1st July 2022 or the adopted child has been placed with an employee less than 2 years on 1st July 2022. Employees must complete the extra leave on or before their child’s second birthday or within 2 years of the adoption placement.
Parent’s Benefit has also increased from 5 weeks to 7 weeks for each relevant parent.
General Regulations Reminder
The leave must be taken within the first 2 years of the birth of the child or, in the case of an adoption, from the date of placement of the child. Leave must be taken in either a seven-week block or in blocks, not less than one week.
Parent’s Leave can be taken in addition to existing Maternity Leave, Adoptive Leave, Paternity Leave, and Parental Leave, as applicable to each relevant parent.
A relevant parent includes a parent or spouse or civil partner or cohabitant of a parent of the child.
Seven weeks Parent’s Leave will be paid by the state at the same rate as Maternity Benefit and Paternity Benefit.
The employee who wishes to take Parent’s Leave must give to the employer six weeks' notice in writing of the proposed Parent’s Leave.
It is important to note that the employee retains all rights whilst on leave and has a right to return to work after Parent’s Leave on the same terms and conditions as before.
