UK Expands Bereavement Leave to Include Step, Half Relatives and Pregnancy Loss

The United Kingdom has enacted new legislation expanding the right to bereavement leave to include step and half relatives, as well as individuals experiencing pregnancy loss. The move, following a government consultation, aims to align UK law with contemporary family structures and sensitive life events.

The updated regulations will cover relationships including step, half, adoptive, foster, and kinship care. Kinship care refers to situations where family or friends care for a child when their parents are unable to do so. This expansion is intended to bring UK laws into the 21st century by recognizing diverse family arrangements.

Lucy Peake, chief executive of the Kinship charity, welcomed the change, stating that kinship families grieve losses similarly to other families and that this right to time off work will ensure fairer treatment. The legislation also extends to women and their partners who experience pregnancy loss, encompassing miscarriages, terminations, and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers. Furthermore, it applies to the other biological parent and intended parents in surrogacy arrangements.

Employees will have the flexibility to take this leave within 56 weeks of the loss, rather than being required to take it as a single block. The CBI, representing UK businesses, noted that many employers already offer compassionate leave for such circumstances and indicated a willingness to engage with the government and unions to ensure the practical implementation of the new details.

However, the government emphasized the need for a safety net beyond employer discretion. Minister for the Future of Work, Kate Dearden, stated that no one should have to struggle for time to grieve and that these changes support individuals during difficult life moments, regardless of their circumstances or employment.

Miscarriage UK described the announcement as a significant step in acknowledging pregnancy loss as a bereavement. Chief Executive Vicki Robinson expressed hope that the new law would set a baseline for employers to offer more, with the charity advocating for paid bereavement leave. Bereavement support charity Sue Ryder also called for paid leave, citing the potential financial impact of bereavement.