Welcome to the first in a series of bulletins looking at some of 2019’s key employment, pensions and immigration law developments and also at what 2020 has in store.
As the year draws to a close, we learn that unemployment dropped to 4.8% in November according to the latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office. Compare this to the same month in 2009 when unemployment stood at 13.8%. What a difference a decade makes.
In 2019, employers compete for talent and policy makers grapple with the challenge of increasing the supply of labour. For example, the government is investigating how remote and flexible working initiatives might increase participation in the workforce by women, older workers and those with a disability. We are seeing changes to how, when and where work is performed. Employers are also embracing new ways of working to help employees balance their professional and personal commitments.
This brings us to the topic of today’s bulletin, which concerns the recent legislation extending the right of parents to take leave from the workplace to care for their children.
Look out for the next edition of our ’12 Days of Christmas’ series tomorrow.
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Extension of Parents’ Rights
Employers need to update their policies and handbooks to reflect the changes to parental leave and the introduction of parent’s leave (if they have not done so already).
In August, we reported on the Parental Leave (Amendment) Bill 2019, as it then was, which was passed by the Oireachtas and came into force on 1 September. The legislation increased the amount of parental leave that a person can take from 18 to 22 weeks. The entitlement will rise again to 26 weeks from 1 September 2020. A parent may also now take leave in respect of a child who is aged up to 12 years (previously the age limit was 8 years). If the child in question has a disability, then the parent can apply for parental leave until that child reaches the age of 18.
The Parent’s Leave and Benefits Act 2019 was signed into law in November, but the minister is yet to make an order bringing the act’s provisions into effect. This legislation will introduce a new two-week period of non-transferable “parent’s leave” that can be taken before a child’s first birthday or within a year of their adoption. The legislation will also entitle a parent to take leave if a child or co-parent dies.
An eligible parent can claim “parent’s benefit” from the state during a period of parent’s leave. We understand that this benefit is available now even though the provisions of the act have not been brought into operation. The level of the benefit is €245 per week and it will be up to employers to decide whether to top it up.
Although the entitlement to take time off to care for a child is not gender specific, it is widely thought that there is a higher take up amongst women. It remains to be seen whether the introduction of two weeks of paid leave will be sufficient to encourage men to take advantage of this right.
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