Women who have abortions and miscarriages will now have right to bereavement leave

Employees grieving a loss during early pregnancy or the death of a relative are set to gain statutory time off under expanded rules outlined by the government .

Beginning in April next year, the statutory bereavement right will cover staff who lose a spouse, partner, parent, adult child or sibling.

Step and half relatives will also be included, alongside foster, kinship care and adoptive relationships, which currently hold no statutory protection in terms of workplace leave.

Women and their partners who suffer a pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks, including a miscarriage , a termination and an unsuccessful IVF embryo transfer, will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave.

There is an existing right to leave for parents who experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy, or the death of a child under 18.

The Employment Rights Act 2025 established this new statutory right to unpaid leave for employees who suffer the loss of a relative.

Monday’s announcement follows a consultation aimed at ensuring the new entitlement is “shaped with the needs of employees and employers”.

The move follows campaigning, including by grieving parents who had no formal recognition of their loss, to end “inconsistency and confusion”, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade said.

Despite estimates that one in five women in the UK experience a miscarriage, there is no legal right to bereavement leave in these circumstances.

Work minister Kate Dearden 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.”

The department said that while the vast majority of affected workers have understanding employers, there needs to be a “safety net beyond this discretion”.

Regarding loss during pregnancy, the right to bereavement leave will apply to partners, the other biological parent, or intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement.