With a day-one entitlement to two weeks’ unpaid time off coming in April 2027, People Management looks at actions for employers
23 September 2026
Employees will gain a new day-one right to up to two weeks’ unpaid leave for family bereavement and pregnancy loss from April 2027, the government has confirmed.
Introduced through the Employment Rights Act 2025, the entitlement will cover employees who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling, including specified step, half, adoptive, foster and kinship care relationships.
It will also extend parental bereavement leave to pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage, termination and unsuccessful in vitro fertilisation embryo transfers.
How should employers manage bereavement leave?
How businesses can better support grieving workers
Case for statutory paid miscarriage leave ‘overwhelming’, say MPs
Kate Dearden, minister for the future of work, said no one should have to “fight for time” to grieve, adding: “These changes back people going through some of the hardest moments of life, whoever they are and wherever they work.”
Leave can be taken as individual days within 56 weeks of the loss, with no evidence required. Employees must give notice as soon as reasonably practicable during the first eight weeks and one week’s notice thereafter.
Employees will also be protected from detriment or dismissal for taking the leave, with further guidance expected before April next year.
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