Posted Date: 21st August 2025

Parental bereavement leave is presently only available for pregnancy losses occurring after 24 weeks, classed as stillbirths.

What are employees currently entitled to?

Employees can take up to two weeks’ leave if their child is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, or if a child younger than 18 years’ old dies.

They can also be eligible for two weeks' statutory parental bereavement pay - either £187.18 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings,
whichever is the lower - if they have been working for their employer for at least 26 weeks.

What is changing?

The Government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that parents who experience a pregnancy loss under 24 weeks will also be
entitled to parental bereavement leave, as an extended right.

The extended right is likely to be unpaid and last for at least one week.

The details regarding eligibility, duration, and documentation requirements (e.g., doctor’s note) are still being considered

The changes to the entitlement are expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of employees who are affected by pregnancy loss each year. Giving them
the legal right to take time to grieve and get support during a difficult time. 

Employers must prepare to support staff experiencing loss without requiring them to claim sick leave, and policies should be updated before the changes go live.

We will keep you updated as the finer details are confirmed by Parliament in due course.