The UK government has announced new rights for employees taking time off work, covering family bereavement and pregnancy loss. The changes were confirmed in an announcement shared on Tuesday, September 23.
New bereavement leave from April 2027
Ministers will introduce a new right to bereavement leave from April 2027. This will apply to employees who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling. The right will also cover step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships, which currently have no legal right to bereavement leave.
Two weeks of unpaid leave for pregnancy loss
Women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks – including miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers – will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave. The government said this gives people the necessary time and security to grieve during one of the hardest moments in their lives.
Minister for the future of work, 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."
