Employees will be legally entitled to time off work following a bereavement or pregnancy loss from April 2027.
The government said the new right to bereavement leave will be for staff who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling. It will include step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships.
Also announced today, women, their partners and intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement 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 rules are part of the Employment Rights Act.
The government, which has today published its response to a consultation on leave for bereavement, said the changes will be enacted in Parliament by secondary legislation next year.
Kate Dearden, minister for the future of work, 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.”
Vicki Robinson, Miscarriage UK chief executive, added:
“We welcome today’s announcement that bereavement leave for pre-24-week pregnancy loss will become law in April 2027, with an increased minimum of two weeks’ leave and an entitlement that recognises partners, too.
“This is an important step in recognising pregnancy loss as a bereavement and the profound impact it can have, and we hope will provide a baseline for employers to go further. We still strongly believe bereavement leave should be paid, and we will continue to press for this through our Leave for Every Loss campaign.
“We will continue work with government to ensure the detail and guidance provide meaningful and compassionate support for everyone affected by pregnancy loss.”
The government is currently carrying out a wider review of the parental leave and pay system including on areas such as ‘Hugh’s Law’ and the rights of parents with terminally ill children.