Employer guide · Reviewed 2 November 2026
Who qualifies for the new bereavement leave right?
From April 2027, eligible employees in Great Britain are expected to have a day-one right to up to two weeks of unpaid leave after certain bereavements. The government’s consultation response sets out the covered relationships; the final regulations and guidance are still awaited.
Relationships covered
The announced right covers the death of a spouse, civil partner or partner, including partners who do not live together; a parent; an adult child; or a sibling. Biological, adopted, step and half relationships are included. It also recognises equivalent parental relationships for people raised by kinship carers or foster carers.
Pregnancy loss before 24 weeks is covered separately. See our pregnancy loss guide.
Relationships not included in the announced list
Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends are not named in the statutory list announced so far. The government recognises that grief is not limited to those relationships. Employers can choose to make their own policy more generous and include wider family or chosen family.
How other rights may apply
Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay applies to eligible parents after the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth from 24 weeks. Time off for dependants may allow reasonable unpaid time to deal with an emergency involving a dependant, such as making funeral arrangements; it is not a general leave entitlement for grieving.
Do employees need to prove the relationship?
The government has confirmed there will be no evidence requirement for the new statutory leave. For any additional leave your organisation offers, use clear and sensitive rules. A simple self-declaration may avoid asking someone to document a painful loss.
Use the free BereaveGuide policy generator to set out the relationships your organisation covers. This guide describes the announced Great Britain policy; Northern Ireland has separate employment law. See the government announcement.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.