Parental Bereavement Leave

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

1.1 We recognise that, while dealing with any bereavement is difficult, the death of a child is one of the most harrowing events that an employee and their family can ever face. This policy is meant to relay the factual information behind the policy and is not meant to detract in any way from the situation. Clinical Partners is absolutely committed to supporting employees through their grief and this policy is meant to ensure that employees are aware of their entitlement to parental bereavement leave as well as other support available whilst making clear our commitment to that.

2.0 Scope of policy

2.1 All employees taking parental bereavement leave are covered by this policy, including those on part-time contracts.

2.2 It does not apply to self-employed contractors.

2.3 This policy is non-contractual but outlines the way in which we deal with parental bereavement. We reserve the right to amend this policy at any time. Such changes will be notified to all employees.

3.0 Eligibility

3.1 Parental bereavement leave is available from day one of employment. It is available to employees on the death of a child under the age of 18. You may take parental bereavement leave if you fall into any one of the following categories:

3.2 The partner of anyone who falls into the above categories, where they live in an enduring family relationship with the child and their parent.

3.3 In addition, parents who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy are entitled to take parental bereavement leave.

4.0 Length of leave and how it may be taken

4.1 A total of two weeks may be taken as parental bereavement leave and you may choose to take leave as:

4.2 Leave may start on any day of the week and must be taken in whole weeks. It may be taken at any time in the 56-week period following the death.

4.3 If you have suffered a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, you are still entitled to take your full entitlement to maternity and paternity leave, provided you were eligible to take maternity or paternity leave in the first place, in addition to parental bereavement leave. Parental bereavement leave cannot be taken at the same time as maternity or paternity leave.

4.4 Where more than one child dies or is stillborn, you are entitled to two weeks of parental bereavement leave in relation to each child.

5.0 Notification requirements

5.1 Leave to be taken within the first 56 days of the death.

You do not need to give any advance notice of taking parental bereavement leave. The Company asks that you contact your line manager email by the time you were due to start work on the day you wish leave to begin, or if this is not possible, as soon as is reasonably practicable, giving the date of the death, the date on which leave will start and whether one or two weeks is to be taken.

5.2 Leave to be taken later than the first 56 days since the death

You need to give one week’s advance notice of taking parental bereavement leave to your line manager by email giving the date of the death, the date on which leave will start and whether one or two weeks is to be taken.

6.0 Cancelling or changing leave dates

6.1 You can cancel a period of leave that you have already told us about, as long as the period of leave has not already started. If you wish to cancel a period of leave which was to begin within the first 56 days of the death, you can cancel it by letting us know by your normal start time on the day that leave was originally due to start.

6.2 To cancel leave which was to begin later than 56 days after the death, you should let us know no later than one week prior to the intended start date.

6.3 You can also change the start date of leave by following the notice requirements above.

7.0 Payment during leave

7.1 We recognise the need to support bereaved parents, we will therefore pay statutory parental bereavement pay during leave to eligible employees. To be eligible:

7.2 Payment will be made at the rate set by the Government each year or 90 per cent of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).

7.3 In order to receive statutory parental bereavement pay, you must provide HR@clinical-partners.co.uk with notice of this and the following information within 28 days, or as soon as is reasonably practicable, of the first day of parental bereavement leave: 

8.0 Terms and conditions during leave

8.1 During parental bereavement leave, you remain entitled to receive your normal contractual terms and conditions of employment that you would have received had you not taken this leave, with the exception of remuneration. This will include contractual benefits, subject to the terms of these benefits.

9.0 Right to return

9.1 Upon your return to work, you are entitled to return to the same job, with the same terms and conditions, in which you were employed before your absence unless:

9.2 On your first day back to work, your line manager will set time aside to hold an informal meeting with you to discuss any arrangements regarding your return to work and any additional support we may be able to offer you.

10.0 Employee Assistance Programme

10.1 We would like to remind you of the support that is available to you at this difficult time through access to our employee assistance programme which provides compassionate guidance to support with wellbeing and bereavement and we would like to encourage you to use it if you feel like you would like to talk to someone about your loss. The service can be accessed:

11.0 Flexible working

11.1 We appreciate that a temporary period of flexible working may be beneficial to employees after they have suffered a loss. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact your line manager in the first instance.

12.0 Review of policy

12.1 This policy will be reviewed every 3 years or upon a change in approach / legislation / regulation – whichever is sooner.