Government expands bereavement leave

The UK government is expanding the legal right to time off work for bereavement. People who have lost step- and half- relatives, as well as loved ones in foster, adoptive and kinship care relationships, will be entitled up to two weeks’ unpaid leave from next April.

The new right will also extend to parents who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. These include miscarriages, abortions and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers.

The announcement yesterday follows a consultation in which the government says more than 80% of employers and 90% of business representative organisations supported an entitlement to bereavement leave following the death of an immediate family member. Indeed, many employers will already offer compassionate leave – but the government says a “safety net” is in order.

The changes are being implemented through secondary legislation to the Employment Rights Act 2025, which took effect in December and brings in phased changes to UK workplace laws this year and next year.

Other changes introduced under the Act include day-one rights to paternity and parental leave, rights to guaranteed hours and reasonable notice of shifts, a reduction of the qualifying period of employment for the right to claim unfair dismissal, and measures aimed at preventing sexual harassment in the workplace.