The UK government has announced new rights to bereavement leave, giving more employees the opportunity to take time away from work following the death of someone they love. This represents a positive step towards recognising the impact of grief on our lives, but there is still more to do to ensure bereaved people receive the understanding and support they need.
How is UK bereavement leave changing?
On 22 September 2026, the government confirmed plans to introduce a new legal right to bereavement leave for employees who experience the death of certain close family members. The changes are expected to come into effect in April 2027.
Under the new rules, employees will be entitled to up to two weeks of bereavement leave following the death of a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling. The entitlement will also recognise a wider range of family relationships, including stepfamilies, half-siblings, adoptive families, kinship care and foster relationships.
The leave will be available to take flexibly within 56 weeks of the bereavement, including as individual days rather than one continuous period. Employees will not be required to provide evidence of their loss and will be protected from detriment or dismissal for exercising their statutory right.
The announcement also confirmed that women and their partners who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave.
These changes build on existing parental bereavement leave provisions for parents whose child dies under the age of 18, or following a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
(Read the government's full announcement on bereavement leave and pregnancy loss.)
Why is this an important step forward?
When someone dies, the practical demands of everyday life don't stop. There may be a funeral to arrange, family members to support, paperwork to complete and difficult decisions to make, all while trying to process a life-changing loss.
For many people, returning to work during this period can feel overwhelming. Grief can affect concentration, sleep, energy levels and the ability to manage everyday tasks. Having protected time away from work can provide some much-needed breathing space at an incredibly difficult time.
The new entitlement also sends an important message: bereavement is a significant life event, and people need time and space to grieve.
Until now, there has been no general legal right to bereavement leave following the death of most adult family members. While many employers already offer compassionate or bereavement leave, the availability and terms of that support can vary considerably.
Introducing a legal minimum allowance is a welcome move towards ensuring that more people can access time off without having to rely solely on employer discretion.
Unpaid bereavement leave: is it enough?
Although these changes respresent a positive step, an important question remains: will people be able to afford to take the time they need?
The government has confirmed that the new entitlement for pregnancy loss will be unpaid. For the wider bereavement leave provisions, however, employees should check the final legislation and their employer's arrangements for the applicable pay terms.
Where leave is unpaid, losing income at the same time as losing a loved one can add another layer of stress to an already distressing experience. Not everyone can afford to take two weeks away from work without pay. Some people may feel they have no choice but to return before they're ready, use their annual leave or try to manage their grief while continuing to work.
This creates a difficult inequality. The ability to take time to grieve should not depend on someone's financial circumstances.
Paid bereavement leave would help ensure that people can access the time they need without having to weigh up their emotional wellbeing against paying the bills.
Employers can play an important role in supporting their staff wellbeing by offering paid leave, flexible working, phased returns and compassionate support that reflects the individual circumstances of their employees.
Grief doesn't end after two weeks
There is another important thing to remember following this announcement… grief doesn't follow a timetable.
The immediate aftermath of a death can be a blur of shock, practical arrangements and supporting other family members. For some people, the reality of their loss may become more apparent weeks or even months later, when the initial activity has subsided and everyday life begins to resume.
Grief can resurface around birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other significant milestones. It can also be affected by unexpected reminders, changes in family life or the realisation that someone will not be there for important moments in the future.
The flexibility of the new entitlement is encouraging because it recognises that people may need time away from work at different points during the first year following a death. However, two weeks of leave, even when taken flexibly, cannot meet every person's needs.
Longer-term bereavement support, understanding employers and compassionate communities remain essential. People should not feel that they must be 'back to normal' simply because they have returned to work.
Why bereavement support matters
At Scotty's, we believe everyone affected by a military bereavement deserves understanding, compassion and access to appropriate support.
Military-connected bereavement can bring its own circumstances and challenges, shaped by the person's service, the way their loved one died and the wider military community around them. But, as with all bereavement, every person's experience is different.
Some people may need immediate practical help. Others may benefit from opportunities to connect with people who understand their experience, access information or receive support much further down the line. There is no single right way to grieve, and there is no universal timeline for healing.
That's why our work at Scotty's goes beyond the immediate aftermath of a death. We support people affected by military-connected bereavement with practical guidance, opportunities to build social connections, mental health and wellbeing support and ongoing development opportunities, at any age or stage of grief.
The government's announcement is an important step in acknowledging the impact of loss and giving more people the right to take time away from work. We welcome that progress while recognising the need to go further, including making leave financially accessible and ensuring that support doesn't disappear once the initial period of bereavement has passed.
Ultimately, bereavement support should be about more than giving someone time off. It should be about creating the conditions in which people can grieve without unnecessary pressure, feel understood rather than judged, and access help when they need it.
Because grief doesn't end when the funeral is over, when someone returns to work or when a certain number of weeks have passed.
If you have been affected by a military-connected bereavement, find out more about the available support and Join the Scotty’s Community for free today.
