On 5 October 2015, the Chancellor, George Osborne announced that the Government intends that shared parental leave and pay will be extended to grandparents.
The Government intends to introduce new legislation and consult on the details of this proposal during the first half of 2016. The Government aims to implement the policy in 2018.
The new policy will only apply to working grandparents due to the eligibility criteria for shared parental leave and pay. However, the changes are set to increase flexibility and choice in how working families structure parental leave and childcare arrangements during their child’s first year. The Government hopes that this policy will remove any fear working grandparents may have of losing their jobs if they were to request time off to help their families with childcare arrangements.
If you have any questions on any of the issues raised in the above article, please contact Lyndsey Saunders.