“Behind every loss is a family that deserves time to heal” - Local MP welcomes new right to bereavement leave

Local MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Marie Tidball, has welcomed the Government’s announcement that every worker will have the legal right to bereavement leave following the death of an immediate family member or pregnancy loss, delivering greater security and fairness at work. 

From April 2027, all employees who have lost a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling, will have the right to take two weeks of unpaid leave. This is extended to include step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships, who currently have no legal right to bereavement leave, to bring our laws into the 21st century. 

Crucially, this includes women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers, will also be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave. This gives people the necessary time and security to grieve during one of the hardest moments in their lives. 

No one will be asked or required to provide evidence of their loss, helping to protect employees’ privacy and dignity at a deeply distressing time. The new leave can also be taken flexibly within 56 weeks of the loss, including as single days, enabling workers to grieve in the way that works for them. 

After hearing from local residents who were worried about their rights at work following the loss of a family member, local Barnsley MPs have been advocating for changes to ensure no employee will worry about whether they can take time off work to grieve. After years of inconsistency and confusion about protections they might be entitled to, grieving employees across the country will no longer have to fight for time to recover from loss. 

These fundamental changes fill a vital gap in employment law that mean employees are only able to take bereavement leave at employer discretion, recognising that every family deserves the time and space to mourn the people they love, and that Parental Bereavement Leave must be extended to those who are currently excluded.  

Marie Tidball, local MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, said:  

"Behind every loss is a family that deserves time to heal, time to grieve shouldn't depend on where you work. I am so grateful that our Labour Government is delivering a new legal right to bereavement leave for all employees.  

"This is a fundamental change that will give millions of working people the security and breathing room they need. Whilst many employees have understanding employers, who give them the time and space that they need, these measures extend protections to everyone. 

"These changes will deliver real security and breathing room for families across our communities, giving them the right to grieve loss in the way that works for them." 

Minister of State for the Future of Work, 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.”  

Vicki Robinson, Miscarriage UK Chief Executive, said: 

“We welcome [this] 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.” 

 Pregnancy loss changes build on the existing right to Parental Bereavement Leave for parents who experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy or the death of a child under 18.  

The government is currently undertaking a wider, comprehensive 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.