Care providers are being encouraged to start preparing for significant changes to bereavement leave legislation due to come into force in April 2027.
The Government has confirmed that employees will gain a new day-one right to bereavement leave following the death of a close family member. The new entitlement will also extend to those affected by pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. [gov.uk], [morecrofts.co.uk]
Currently, statutory bereavement rights are limited to specific circumstances, such as parental bereavement leave. The forthcoming changes will widen eligibility to include:
- Spouses and partners
- Parents
- Adult children
- Siblings
- Step and half-relatives
- Adoptive, foster and kinship care relationships
- Pregnancy loss before 24 weeks [gov.uk], [morecrofts.co.uk]
Employees will be entitled to take up to two weeks’ leave and will be able to use that leave flexibly within a 56-week period following the bereavement. [morecrofts.co.uk], [personneltoday.com]