Government backs Private Members’ Bills to introduce two new reforms
The right to neonatal care leave and changes to the law on tips, gratuities and service charges look set to be introduced by Private Members’ Bills. The Government announced it intended to introduce neonatal care leave back in March 2020 and changes to the law on tips as long ago as October 2018. However, it has not introduced the relevant legislation to implement these reforms. The Government has now confirmed it will be backing Private Members’ bills seeking to introduce these changes.
1. Neonatal care leave
Under the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill, parents will each be able to take up to 12 weeks' paid leave to enable them to spend more time with their baby if it is receiving neonatal care in a hospital or other agreed care setting due to being born early or being sick. The right will apply to parents of babies who are admitted into hospital in the first four weeks of their life, and who have a continuous stay in hospital of seven full days or more.
This entitlement is in addition to other leave entitlements, such as maternity and paternity leave.
2. Tips, gratuities and service charges
The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill will make it unlawful for businesses to hold back tips and service charges from workers. A new statutory code of practice will also be developed to provide advice on how tips should be distributed. Employers will have to keep records of how tips have been dealt with and...
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