Carer’s Leave Bill passes Second Crucial Reading

Last month, the Carer’s Leave Bill passed its Second Reading, securing vital Government support. This was a significant hurdle and a boost for carers who will receive new unpaid leave entitlement under government-backed law. Wendy Chamberlain MP, sponsor of the Carer’s Leave Bill said: “This is a landmark day for carers around the UK, marking the first step to secure employment rights designed to help people care and work”.

If brought in, the Carer’s Leave Bill will grant employees a new entitlement to take up to one week of unpaid leave each year to provide or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need.

What does the Carer’s Leave Bill mean for Employers and Carers?

Carer’s Leave will be available to eligible employees from the first day of their employment, meaning unpaid carers will be supported regardless of how long they’ve worked with their employer. Staff will be able to take the leave flexibly to suit their caring responsibilities and will not need to provide evidence of how the leave is used or who it will be used for, ensuring a smoother process for both businesses and their employees.

You can also find out more here Gov.uk Carer’s Leave Bill

Contact us

The GatekeeperHR team is here to help. GatekeeperHR is a fixed cost, employment law and HR retainer service which provides businesses with access to a dedicated team of experienced lawyers and HR professionals who you can speak to, or meet face-to-face, at any time. The service includes a full HR compliance audit, access to an online portal full of valuable employment law and HR resources and an annual training session on topics of your choosing.

If you need HR support or advice or wish to discuss how GatekeeperHR can ensure that your employment documentation is legally compliant, contact Jenny Reardon, a member of our GatekeeperHR team, on e. JennyReardon@rixandkay.co.uk or visit the GatekeeperHR website for more information on how we can help you.

If you need Employment Law advice to discuss how these situations could affect your business, contact Elaine Abbs, a solicitor with our Employment team for more information on how legislative changes could affect your business.