Introducing The Carers Leave Regulations 2024

We’re delighted to share a significant development in employment rights: The Carers Leave Regulations 2024. These regulations were recently laid before Parliament and set out the statutory scheme for employees to apply for up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave within a 12-month period. 

These new regulations will give all unpaid carers the right to take up to one weeks leave from their paid employment in order to provide care to a dependant with a long term care need. 

The new legislation can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2024/9780348254808/pdfs/ukdsi_9780348254808_en.pdf 

Key Features include:

• Day one employment right
• Applicable to employees with a dependant requiring long-term care
• Leave can be taken in consecutive or non-consecutive half-days or full days
• Advance written notice required for leave, providing entitlement confirmation
• Employers can postpone with adequate notice and reschedule in consultation with the employee
• Employees protected from detriment or dismissal related to carer’s leave

These pivotal regulations are a great news for carers and underscore a commitment to supporting a compassionate and responsible workplace. 

Cas Thompson, Director at PayPacket said: “It’s great to hear that more is being done to support millions of unpaid carers in the UK, so they can continue to provide vital care to their loved ones.”

Stay tuned for further insights on how PayPacket is navigating these changes to benefit both employers and employees alike by subscribing to our PayPacket e-newsletter.