New UK Parental Bereavement Leave Rights Take Effect November

New employment rights for shared parental leave and parental bereavement leave will take effect on November 1, allowing parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave within the first year of a baby's life and to take additional leave following the death of a child under 18. Research from the University of Würzburg and the German Center for Higher Education Research shows that among PhD holders, women take longer parental leaves than men, with longer absences linked to income loss, particularly for women, highlighting the contribution of parental leave to the gender wage gap. At the state level in the U.S., several Republican-led states, including Alabama and Arkansas, have expanded paid parental leave for state employees, with other states considering similar measures amid growing bipartisan support. In California, starting January 2025, paid family leave benefits will increase, with workers earning $60,000 or less receiving 90% of their income during leave, while higher earners will receive 70%, funded by removing the previous income cap for contributions to the state disability fund. These changes reflect a broader trend toward enhancing paid family leave rights and benefits across various jurisdictions to better support working parents.