Royal Assent for new Family Friendly Legislation

Three new Acts, originating from Private Members’ Bills, received Royal Assent. Here’s a brief breakdown of what they mean:

• The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act grants employed parents who have a newborn baby admitted to neonatal care the opportunity to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave. This is in addition to their existing entitlements such as maternity and paternity leave.
• The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act extends the current protections against redundancy while on Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave, or Shared Parental Leave to include pregnancy and a period of time after a new parent returns to work.
• The Carer’s Leave Act establishes a new statutory entitlement for unpaid leave for employees who are responsible for the care of a dependent with long-term care needs.

According to the Government’s press release, it states that the specific details and commencement dates for each of these Acts, including any additional regulations, will be announced at a later time.