Legal Updates: 2015

As we are rapidly speeding through 2014 we are looking forward at Law changes expected in 2015

Parental Leave
The right to unpaid parental leave will be extended to parents of any child under the age of 18 years. Currently this leave can only be taken up to a child’s 5^th birthday unless a child has a disability.

Surrogate parents eligible for adoption leave

Currently the law does not allow intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement the right to adoption leave or pay but they may qualify for parental leave. It does however permit that the surrogate, full maternity leave and pay as according to UK law what a mother does after a child is born has no impact on her right to maternity leave. 

In 2015 the law is due to change and provided they meet the criteria, intended parents who have a child through surrogacy will be entitled to paternity leave and pay, adoption leave and pay and shared parental leave and pay. Furthermore both intended parents will be allowed to take unpaid time off to attend 2 antenatal classes with the woman carrying the child.

School leave age rises to 18

During 2015 the school leave age will rise to 18. Children born on or after 1 September 1997 can leave school on the last Friday in June as long as they are 16 by the end of that year’s summer school holiday but will have to stay in some form of education or training until their 18^th Birthday.

The options are:

full-time education - e.g. at a school or college

• an apprenticeship or traineeship
• part-time education or training - as well as being employed, self-employed or volunteering for 20 hours or more a week

For employers this may affect the amount of hours 16-18 years olds can work to allow them to complete training or study. It could also open up further opportunity for apprenticeships within companies.