The government confirmed on 22 September 2026 that a new right to bereavement leave will come into force in April 2027.
Employees who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling will be able to take time off. The right includes step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships, which currently have no statutory right to leave. Women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks will be entitled to up to two weeks' leave.
The leave is unpaid. It can be taken flexibly within 56 weeks of the loss, including as single days. In the first eight weeks, employees only need to tell their employer as soon as is reasonably practicable. No one can be asked for evidence of their loss, and employees will be protected from detriment or dismissal for taking the leave. The detail will be set out in regulations next year.
For recruitment agencies, the change applies to your own employees, and clients will ask about it. It is the first of the measures the government's roadmap lists only as "2027" to be given a month.
Every date to 2027 is on our updated Employment Rights Act timeline at ior.org/employment-rights-act-timeline