The Employment Rights Bill on SSP, statutory leave and protection for pregnant employees

October 21, 2024 5:01 pm Published by

So what are the proposed changes to SSP, statutory leave and protection for pregnant employees?

Statutory sick pay (SSP)

What is the law currently?

Currently employees are only entitled to SSP from the fourth day of sickness as long as they meet the lower earnings threshold (currently £123 per week).

What is changing?

The waiting period for SSP and the lower earnings threshold will be removed and when this is introduced all workers will be entitled to SSP from their first day of illness.

Parental leave and paternity leave

What is the law currently?

Currently male employees needs 26 weeks’ service to take two weeks’ paternity leave within 52 weeks of the birth of a baby. Parents need one years’ service to take up to 4 weeks of unpaid parental leave per year.

What is changing?

Both paternity leave and unpaid parental leave will become day one rights for employees.

Bereavement leave

What is the law currently?

Currently parents of a child under 18 who dies can take two weeks’ parental bereavement leave within 56 weeks of the death or stillbirth. 

What is changing?

This will become a general right to bereavement leave with two weeks’ bereavement leave on the death of a child under 18 and one week of bereavement leave for any other bereavement.

Maternity protection

What is changing?

It will be unlawful to dismiss a pregnant worker within six months of their return to work except in specific circumstances.

If you have any questions regarding the proposed changes or their impact on your business please contact us via help@yourhrpartner.co.uk.

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This post was written by SKHR