Statutory right to bereavement leave

Implementation date: Expected 2027

The Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a statutory right to bereavement leave.

Under the Act, the current right to parental bereavement leave will be extended, so bereavement leave is not limited to parents who have lost a child (which is defined as including children who are stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy). Regulations will specify the relationships ("bereaved persons") that will be covered by the right. The definition of bereaved person will include persons bereaved by pregnancy loss, including miscarriage.

In its Plan to Make Work Pay and Employment Rights Act: timeline update, the Government has said that this measure will take effect in 2027.

On 23 October 2025, the Government published a consultation on Leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss. The consultation asked for views on:

• eligibility criteria, including which relationships will qualify;
• the types of pregnancy loss in scope;
• the duration and timing of leave; and 
• notice and evidence requirements.