From 6 April 2024, employees with caring responsibilities for a dependant will have a new right to unpaid carers leave.
What will carers be entitled to under the new law?
- Employees providing or arranging care for a dependant, with long-term mental or physical health needs will be entitled to one week’s unpaid leave within any 12 month period.
- There is no minimum service requirement to qualify for this right.
- The leave can be used for caring for a dependant who is a spouse, civil partner, child, parent, someone living in the same household, or a person who reasonably relies on the employee to provide or arrange care.
- Carers can take this leave in periods of a day or half day, allowing flexibility to suit their caring responsibilities.
- This right is available from day one of employment.
- Eligible employees can take up to five days’ carer’s leave per year, either as individual days or half days.
- Employees will be required to self-certify their eligibility for carer’s leave. No additional evidence needs to be provided to the employer regarding how or for whom the leave is being used.
- Employees taking carer’s leave will have the same protections against dismissal or detriment as they would if they had taken other types of family-related leave.
What should I do next?
If you need further information about the new employment right, feel free to reach out to us today by emailing CritchleysHR2@critchleys.co.uk