Sheffield MP says it's "ridiculous" families aren't offered time off work to grieve as new policies announced
“It is ridiculous that families going through the worst tragedy weren’t guaranteed time to grieve and heal”
A local MP has backed calls to improve access to compassionate leave as new legislation is expected to offer clear guidance for grieving families.
Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh - who also serves as First Secretary of State - has said it’s “ridiculous” that families haven’t been offered appropriate time off work to grieve after experiencing tragedy after the new policy was announced.
Introduced by Kate Dearden, the Minister of State for the Future of Work, the legislation will give legal rights for bereavement leave from April 2027 for employees who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling.
The minister will also introduce measures to expand parental bereavement leave to women and their partners, including intended parents in surrogacy arrangements, who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks – including miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers - will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave.
It is hoped these changes will bring the UK’s laws into the 21st century as it will also include support for step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships who currently have no legal right to bereavement leave.
This leave can be taken flexibly within 56 weeks of the loss, including as single days, and people will not need to provide evidence of their loss in an effort protect employees’ privacy and dignity.
Louise Haigh MP for Sheffield Heeley said: “I know it will come with great relief for so many. It is ridiculous that families going through the worst tragedy weren’t guaranteed time to grieve and heal.
“That’s why I am so grateful that our Labour Government is delivering a new legal right to bereavement leave for all employees.
"These changes will deliver real security and breathing room for families in Sheffield Heeley, giving them the right to grieve loss in the way that works for them.”