New right to bereavement leave to cover step and half relatives
The UK government has expanded the legal right to unpaid bereavement leave to include step and half relatives, as well as foster and kinship care relationships. Starting in April, employees will be entitled to two weeks of leave, which also covers pregnancy loss.
Why it matters
This policy update modernizes labor laws to better reflect diverse family structures and provides essential support for employees experiencing grief.
Image source, Getty Images By Becky Morton Political reporter Published 5 hours ago A new legal right to unpaid time off work after suffering a bereavement will cover step and half relatives, as well as foster, kinship care and adoptive relationships, the government has said.
From April next year, employees in Great Britain who lose a spouse, partner, parent, adult child or sibling will be entitled to up to two weeks' unpaid leave.
The government had already confirmed the new rights will also apply to parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Previously only parents who have lost a child aged under 18 or stillborn from 24 weeks had a legal right to bereavement leave.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in