Bereavement leave is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. Writing in NLJ this week, Robert Hargreaves of York St John University explains how the Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a day-one right to leave for a wider range of losses, alongside new provisions for pregnancy loss and bereaved partners
Previously, protection was ‘conspicuously narrow’, leaving most employees reliant on employer goodwill.
The reforms aim to recognise grief as part of working life, though key details—such as pay and qualifying relationships—remain unresolved pending consultation.
Employers are urged to review policies now, as the outcome will ‘materially affect’ workplace practice. The shift signals a broader change: the law is beginning to treat grief not as an exception, but as a reality requiring structured support.
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