Best Companies accredited law firm Kingsley Napley LLP has this week announced a new Enhanced ‘Time-off for Dependents’ policy, which goes above and beyond its statutory obligations under The Carers Leave Regulations 2024.
The Regulations, effective since 6 April 2024, mean UK based employers must now offer all employees one week’s unpaid carers leave, regardless of length of service.
Kingsley Napley has chosen instead to introduce an enhanced scheme for its people as demonstration of its commitment to providing a supportive workplace for parents and carers.
The new policy gives all Firm members with parental and/or caring responsibilities 5 days’ paid leave (pro-rated if part-time) per calendar year to support dependants who:
- have a physical or mental illness or injury;
- a disability (as defined in the Equality Act 2010);
- have care needs because of their old age;
- are under the age of 18.
As per the statutory definition, a Dependant under the policy is regarded as a spouse, partner, child, parent, or someone who depends on a Firm member for care (they do not have to be related).
The paid time-off will be granted to provide unplanned care or arrange long-term care for a dependant or in the event unforeseen issues arise, such as where a dependent has an accident, falls ill or when normal care arrangements break-down. The leave is not to be used for covering childcare in school holidays or after-school or to spend social time with family. It is intended as an allowance to provide breathing-space during unexpected situations.
Vicki Godfrey, Head of People & Culture at Kingsley Napley, comments: “We recognise many members of the firm are balancing work and carer responsibilities, whether for children, older parents or other dependents, and that there may be times when these responsibilities need to take precedence over regular work obligations. Rather than offer the statutory position in these circumstances, we have launched a more generous scheme to support our people in their hour of need. As an employer we always try to be at the forefront of progressive HR policies and this is no exception.”
Richard Clayman, Partner and Co-Chair of the KN Families Network, comments: “This policy gives parents and carers the comfort of knowing they can meet life’s emergencies with a period of paid leave. It is the latest example of Kingsley Napley showing it understands life’s difficult realities and wants to support people in their personal lives as well as their work.”
Kingsley Napley was the first law firm to sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge. It offers Fertility Treatment Leave, Pregnancy Loss Leave, Adoption Leave and support for anyone suffering Domestic Abuse.
The firm was 2nd in the latest Best Law Firm to Work For rankings and 13th Best Company to Work for in the UK (Dec 2023 – see here). It also received a special recognition award from Best Companies for employers who have consistently invested in their employee experience and culture for 10 years.