What are the government's new parental leave laws?

Landmark changes to parental leave will be laid out in Parliament on Monday, allowing parents more rights from their first day in a new job.

The reforms to parental leave, part of Labour’s flagship workers’ rights package, include unpaid parental leave from the first day in a new job, which the government says will give an additional 1.5 million parents increased flexibility to share childcare responsibilities.

The sounds of cheers rang out in the House of Commons last December when the government’s landmark Employment Rights Bill became law. It applies to England, Scotland, and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.

As well as parental reforms, the Act includes an expansion of bereavement leave, the right to statutory sick pay from day one of employment, a ban on zero-hour contracts, and a right to guaranteed hours.

There are also protections for whistleblowers who report sexual harassment and some trade union and industrial action reforms to modernise legislation.

The government previously abandoned workers’ rights against unfair dismissal from day one in a bid to get the legislation through Parliament. It now intends to introduce the right after six months of service instead.

In a statement, Sir Keir Starmer said: “The changes we’re bringing in will mean every new parent can properly take time off when they have a child, and no one is forced to work while ill just to make ends meet.

“This is about giving working families the support they need to balance work, health and the cost of living…

“Stronger sick pay, parental leave from day one, and protections that put dignity back at the heart of work.”

The bill was largely welcomed by trade unions and campaigners, but critics argued it will add more financial burdens to businesses already struggling with the rise in employers’ national insurance.

Here, we look at the new parental rights reforms.

Paternity leave

From April, dads will get the right to paternity leave from day one on the job, as a mother would with maternity leave.

Previously, they had to have worked for their employer for 26 weeks before they would become eligible.

The government says this change will mean parents will “no longer be forced to make the heart-wrenching choice between being there for the first weeks of their child’s life or going back to work to avoid losing their job”.

Parental leave rights from day one

All parents will now become eligible for unpaid parental leave from day one of employment.

Previously, they would have to work for a year before they were eligible for unpaid parental leave. It meant they would lose any right to time off if they left their job to work for a new employer.

It comes as the government continues its parental leave and pay review, which ministers say is assessing the entire system to see how it can work better for parents and employers.

Expanded bereavement leave

Bereaved partners will now be entitled to further rights to paternity leave from April under separate new laws, following campaigning.

It means that any fathers whose partner dies before their child’s first birthday will now be eligible for up to 52 weeks of leave.

Previously, they had no automatic right to paternity or parental leave, even if they became the sole carer of their young child and had to rely on the compassion of their employer.

According to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), around 390,000 people who want a job – including parents – are estimated to be out of work due to their caring responsibilities.

There will also be a new statutory right to unpaid bereavement leave for anyone from day one, which will be expanded to include pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

Aaron Horsey, who fought for the change in law after his wife Bernadette died while giving birth, welcomed the change.

Mr Horsey said: “Bereaved Partner’s Paternity Leave ensures that new parents and their employers have a clear route for support at one of the most difficult moments imaginable. It gives them the time and space they need to grieve, care, and begin to rebuild their lives with dignity.

“By embedding this protection in law, it shows how listening to lived experience can lead to practical, compassionate change that will support families for generations to come.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Britain will now be brought into line with other countries where workers already have better protections. And crucially, the legislation will give working people the higher living standards and secure incomes that are needed to build a decent life.

“Good employers will also welcome these changes – the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are built on low-paid, insecure employment.”