Bereavement leave to be extended to pregnancy loss and more relatives

Marianne McJannett

The entitlement will cover employees who lose a spouse, partner, parent, adult child or sibling, as well as step and half relatives and foster, kinship care and adoptive relationships.

Women and their partners who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage, termination or an unsuccessful IVF embryo transfer, will also be entitled to up to two weeks’ unpaid leave.

Parents already have a statutory right to leave following a stillbirth after 24 weeks or the death of a child under 18.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 established the new right to unpaid bereavement leave.

Work minister Kate Dearden said: “No-one should have to fight for time to grieve. These changes back people going through some of the hardest moments of life, whoever they are and wherever they work.

“I want to thank the campaigners whose courage and testimonies have made this change happen.”

Marianne McJannett, partner in employment law at Aberdein Considine LLP, said: “These changes are a welcome and long-overdue recognition of the profound impact that bereavement and pregnancy loss can have on employees and their families, regardless of the relationship involved or the stage of pregnancy at which a loss occurs. 

“For employees, the new rights provide greater certainty and reassurance that they can take time away from work to grieve without relying solely on their employer’s discretion. While many employers already offer compassionate leave, these new statutory entitlements will help ensure greater consistency and protection across workplaces.

“Employers should use the lead-in period before April 2027 to review their policies, update staff handbooks and ensure managers are trained to handle these sensitive situations with empathy and consistency. Ultimately, these reforms represent an important step towards creating more compassionate workplaces while providing a clear framework for both employers and employees.”