Definition
Time off work granted to an employee following the death of a close relative or dependant. While there is a statutory right to parental bereavement leave, there is no general statutory right to bereavement leave in the UK, though most employers offer it as a contractual benefit.
UK Context
The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018 (Jack's Law) provides eligible employees with two weeks of statutory leave following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. For other bereavements, the Employment Rights Act 1996 provides a right to reasonable time off for dependants in emergencies.
Best Practices
- Offer a clear bereavement leave policy that goes beyond the statutory minimum and covers a range of relationships
- Be flexible and compassionate, recognising that grief affects people differently and may require additional support
- Train managers to handle bereavement sensitively and signpost employees to the EAP or other support services
Frequently Asked Questions
How much statutory parental bereavement leave is there?
Eligible employees are entitled to two weeks of leave following the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks. The leave can be taken as a single two-week block or two separate one-week blocks within 56 weeks of the death.
Is there a statutory right to time off for other bereavements?
There is no general statutory bereavement leave for other deaths. However, employees have a right to reasonable unpaid time off under section 57A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to deal with emergencies involving dependants, which can include making funeral arrangements.