Overview

• Employment Rights Bill amendments guarantee a day-one right to at least one week of bereavement leave for pregnancies lost before 24 weeks.
• A government consultation will determine the precise duration of the new leave entitlement.
• Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the change will allow families time to grieve without worrying about their jobs.
• The bill is now in its final parliamentary stages with a full rollout of the reforms scheduled for 2027.
• The move closes a gap that had forced parents to use sick leave after miscarriage and coincides with a wider review of the UK’s parental leave system.