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Millions of workers will gain right to two weeks' bereavement leave after miscarriage or failed IVF from April 2027

From the Newshound archive · first published 22 September 2026 · last updated 23 September 2026.

Workers suffering a miscarriage or failed IVF transfer before 24 weeks will get up to two weeks of unpaid leave from April 2027, available from the first day of employment.
Workers suffering a miscarriage or failed IVF transfer before 24 weeks will get up to two weeks of unpaid leave from April 2027, available from the first day of employment.

From April 2027, women and their partners will be entitled to as many as two weeks of unpaid leave following pregnancy loss before the 24-week mark, including miscarriage, termination and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers, Andy Burnham has announced. The reforms also extend statutory bereavement leave to those whose spouse, partner, parent, adult child or sibling dies, and bring step, foster, kinship and adoptive relationships within the law's protection for the first time.

Work minister Kate Dearden said: 'No one should have to fight for time to grieve.'

Roughly one in five women in the UK will suffer a miscarriage, yet current legislation provides no bereavement leave entitlement for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

The new entitlement covers the other biological parent and intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement, in recognition that pregnancy loss 'affects the whole family'.

MoreThe IndependentWomen who have abortions will now have right to bereavement leavePeoples Gazette NigeriaUK women, partners to get two weeks’ bereavement leave after miscarriage from next year - Peoples Gazette NigeriaSME MagazineNew employee rights for family bereavement and pregnancy loss to be introduced in April 2027 - SME Magazine
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