As well as dealing with the tragic loss of a child, families also have to deal with the practical implications, including leave from work. Too many bereaved parents have been required to go back to work sooner than they would wish and are deprived of the opportunity to properly grieve for their child.

The Government has however have announced amendment to the Employment Rights Bill in order to expand rights to bereavement leave to those who experience pregnancy loss.

Coming into effect from 2027, families who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage and IVF loss, are set to become entitled to protected bereavement leave under new amendments to the Employment Rights Bill announced on 7 July 2025.

The measures will give those experiencing pregnancy loss at any stage the legal right to take time off work to grieve, giving them much needed support at a difficult time, and put dignity and security back at the heart of work, in line with the Government’s Plan for Change.

Previously, statutory Parental Bereavement Leave has only been available to parents who lose a child under 18 or experience stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. This compassionate change acknowledges that the grief following pregnancy loss can be just as profound regardless of when it happens.

These amendments are set to benefit half of all UK workers. Hundreds of thousands of employees are impacted by pregnancy loss per year. One estimate suggests that there are around 250,000 pregnancy losses caused by miscarriages alone in the UK each year with a further 12,000 impacted by loss due to ectopic pregnancies.