[Updated 09/01/2025]
This is a relatively new statutory right for up to 2 weeks leave and pay in such sorrowful cirumstances.
Bereavement Leave – a statutory right
A parent whose child has died when aged under 18 or was stillborn (after 24 weeks of pregnancy) is entitled to take special statutory paid leave. That can be taken for either two weeks or as two separate weeks. If preferred, you need only take one week’s leave in total. No minimum service is required.
The leave may start on or after the child’s death or stillbirth – provided you inform your manager.
Bereavement leave can be combined with other leave such as maternity or parental leave. However, please note that all of your entitlement tov statutory bereavement leave has to be taken completely within 56 weeks of the death or stillbirth.
During such leave, the parent must be given any due pay increase, accrual of holiday entitlement and the right to return to work.
The notice required to be given to your manager varies according to when you wish to take the leave:
– to take the leave between 0 to 8 weeks after the child’s death or stillbirth – inform your manager before the time you would normally start work on the first day of the week or weeks you want to be off work;
– to take the leave between 9 and 56 weeks after the child’s death or stillbirth – give your manager at least one week’s notice of the week(s) you wish to take off.
If another event occurs that necessitates you taking another type of statutory leave, while on bereavement leave, the remaining balance of your bereavement leave should be taken after the other leave has ended.
Bereavement Pay ~
From 07/04/2024 the rate of pay for Statutory Parental Bereavement leave is £184.03 (£172.48). However, if you earn less than that amount, payment will be made at 90% of your average weekly earnings. However, that is subject to you earning on average £123 or more per week.
Note: There are conditions about who is eligible to take the leave and requirements to provide certain information for paid leave etc.. For example if you are an adoptive parent, you may be eligible for bereavement leave and pay.
For fuller details of the right to statutory bereavement leave/pay for parents – see the Government’s information via this link.