After the announcement (23 January) from the UK Government that a new law* will enable parents to take time off following the death of a child, Dr Heejung Chung, Reader in Sociology and Social Policy, said:
‘A wide range of policies in the UK are aimed to provide parents with a better work-life balance. In other words, to enable parents to engage in both paid employment, whilst being able to meet their family demands – may it be to care for children or elderly parents. However, much of the existing policies still focus on the early child-bearing/rearing stages of people’s lives without many regards to the rest of one’s life cycle. This is why this new law enabling parents to take time off following the death of a child is so important. The death of a child is something no parent wants to think of and address, yet it still happens. Although the current Maternity Leave regulation allows parents to take time off in case of stillbirths (after 24 weeks of pregnancy), and birth of babies within the Maternity Leave period, no further regulations exist in the case of death of older infants or children. This is not to say that no such policies exist in any form.’
‘Many companies within the UK, especially larger companies have occupational level policies that allow for one-to-two week paid bereavement leave for the death of family members and relatives, including children. However, what this new regulation does is provide that right to all workers across different types of firms/sectors.’
‘Such legislation may also help solidify this right for workers in companies who already have the policy. In other words, it may enable workers to take up these policies, without fearing any stigma or retribution from the company or their managers. One thing to note is that with this right, and many other rights, those who have not yet been in employment for 26 weeks are not eligible for paid leave. Given the increase in precarious jobs and fixed term contracts, we need to ensure that all workers are given the right to care and bereave without fearing income loss. A child’s death is possibly one of the worst nightmares for any parents, and is not something anyone can control, regardless of whether or not they have been in the job for six months or not.’
*to be known as Jack’s Law in memory of Jack Herd, whose mother Lucy has been campaigning for reform since his death in 2010.
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