Starting next April, millions of workers will gain the legal right to two weeks of unpaid leave following bereavement, marking a significant expansion of leave entitlements under the Employment Rights Act 2025. The new regulations extend protections beyond the current scope, which only grants leave to parents experiencing the stillbirth of a child after 24 weeks of pregnancy or the death of a child.

Under the updated legislation, employees will be able to take unpaid leave after the loss of a loved one, including in cases of early pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or a failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer. The leave entitlement is also extended to cover the death of a partner, parent, adult child, or sibling. Moreover, step-relatives, half-relatives, and those in adoptive, kinship care, or foster relationships are now included within the scope of eligible family members.

Work Minister Kate Dearden highlighted the importance of the new rights, stating that no individual should have to struggle to secure time off to grieve and that the changes aim to support people facing some of the most difficult experiences of their lives.

The legislation reflects a broader move to recognize the varied and complex forms of loss that affect workers and the need for employers to accommodate bereavement beyond traditional parameters. While the leave will be unpaid, advocates underscore the significance of statutory recognition, ensuring workers have a defined period to manage grief without fear of job loss or penalty.

The implementation of these expanded bereavement leave rights is expected to impact millions of employees across various sectors once it takes effect in April, prompting employers to update their policies in accordance with the new legal framework.