Family leave New UK bereavement rights put employers on notice ahead of 2027 Employees will have a day-one right to unpaid time off after family deaths and pregnancy loss under government plans iStock.com/PeopleImages Image John van der Luit-Drummond Editor-in-Chief Image Jenna Lomax Community Editor Tuesday 22 September 2026 Workers who lose close family members will have a new legal right to bereavement leave from April 2027, under new rules announced by the UK’s Labour government this week. Get AccessContinue reading International Employment LawyerAlready have access? Login now Email Enter your email address. Password Enter the password that accompanies your email address. Reset your passwordLog in Need access? Find out how to enjoy unlimited accessGet access For more on legislative change across the globe, see the IEL Monitor – IEL’s forward-looking tracking tool that covers developments in labour and employment law around the world. You might also like... Pregnancy Northern Ireland makes statutory paid miscarriage leave a day-one right Pregnancy UK bosses failing workers who suffer early miscarriages, study finds Family leave Bereavement leave reforms put spotlight on manager training Family leave Compliance with neonatal law could prove complex for some employers