New proposed employment laws are coming thick and fast in the run up to the Xmas break this year.
The Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024 have now been laid before Parliament.
They set out the statutory scheme under which employees will be able to apply for up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave, in any 12 month period.
Key features are:
- The right is going to be a Day One employment right
- The right will apply to employees who have a dependant with a long-term care need and those who want to be absent from work to provide or arrange care for that dependant
- Requests will be in consecutive or non-consecutive half-days or full days
- Employees will have to give notice, in writing, of their intention to take carer’s leave – confirming their entitlement to take it and giving at least twice the amount of notice than the period of leave requested. Or, if longer, three days’ notice
- Employers will be able to postpone a request if the operation of the business would be unduly disrupted. In these circumstances, the employer must give notice of the postponement before the leave was due to begin, and must explain why the postponement is necessary. The employer will then need to allow the leave to be taken within one month of the start-date of the leave originally requested. Rescheduling the leave (if necessary) should be done in consultation with the employee
- Employees will be protected from detriment and/or dismissal because they take, or seek to take, carer’s leave (or the employer believes they are likely to do so)
The Regulations are due to come into force on 6 April 2024 so watch this space for further news.