Bereavement Leave After Miscarriage: New Legal Right for UK Parents

Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy will soon have the legal right to bereavement leave. This important change, part of the Employment Rights Bill, recognises the emotional impact of early pregnancy loss and gives families time to grieve without the pressure to return to work too soon.

What’s Changing?

Currently, bereavement leave and statutory pay apply only if parents experience a miscarriage after 24 weeks or lose a child under 18 years of age. The government is expanding this to cover pregnancy losses at any stage, including early miscarriages.

Under the new law, parents will be entitled to at least one week of unpaid, protected leave following a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. Details such as the exact length of leave and eligibility will be confirmed following public consultation.

This right will apply across England, Scotland, and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.

Why This Matters

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: 

“No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready.” 

Labour MP Sarah Owen, chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, welcomed the change: 

"From my personal experience of miscarriage, to the powerful testimony the Women and Equalities Select Committee heard, I know the difference that bereavement leave will make."

She noted the lasting emotional impact of miscarriage, saying: 

“Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing a pregnancy, but this law change will provide workers with the security of time to grieve and help end the stigma of miscarriage for good.”

The Scale and Impact of Pregnancy Loss

An estimated 250,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage every year in the UK, with most losses occurring within the first 12 weeks. This loss profoundly affects both parents, not just physically but emotionally.

Vicki Robinson, CEO of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the change: 

“A hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too.”

Musician and miscarriage awareness advocate Myleene Klass described miscarriage as a taboo that is often hidden. She said:

"It's a taboo - nobody wants to talk about dead babies - but you have to actually say it as it is. To lose a child is harrowing, it's traumatic."

What Businesses and Families Say

While many larger employers already offer compassionate leave for pregnancy loss, some small businesses worry about the financial impact. The government aims to balance workers’ rights with business needs, consulting widely to get this right.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds commented:

“Grief doesn’t follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.”

Looking Ahead

The Employment Rights Bill includes other important workers’ rights reforms and is expected to introduce bereavement leave for pregnancy loss by 2027. The government will continue consulting on the specifics to ensure the new rights work for families and employers alike.

This legal change marks a vital recognition that miscarriage and early pregnancy loss are profound bereavements. Parents will no longer have to return to work before they are ready, with at least one week of protected leave to grieve. It’s a compassionate step forward for the hundreds of thousands of families affected every year.