The right, which will be brought in through secondary legislation, will apply to step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships. Current parental bereavement leave provides employees with up to two weeks of time off following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Under the new rights, women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers, will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave.
Employees will not need to provide proof, and will be able to take the leave flexibly within 56 weeks of the loss.
Matthew Percival, director, future of work and skills at the CBI, said: ‘Bringing forward a day one right to bereavement leave recognises the importance of giving employees time and space during some of life’s most difficult moments.’
