Consultation outcome

Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss

• From: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, Department for Business and Trade, Kate Dearden MP and The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds MP
• Published: 23 October 2025
• Last updated: 22 September 2026 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

This consultation has concluded

Read the full outcome

Consultation on leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss: government response

PDF, 614 KB, 50 pages

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Detail of outcome

This consultation focused on details of the new entitlement to leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss and sought views to ensure the final entitlement was balanced for both employers and employees.

The consultation received over 1,900 responses from:

• individuals
• employers
• business representative organisations
• trade union or staff associations
• legal representatives
• charity or interest groups
• academics
• academic and research associations
• other interested parties

The majority of respondents were supportive of the proposed bereavement leave entitlement and framework, and broadly called for the most generous options detailed in the consultation.

The government response includes insights from the consultation and the final decisions on the details of the bereavement leave entitlement.

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Original consultation

Summary

We are seeking views on the details of a new entitlement to bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

This consultation ran from
9am on 23 October 2025 to 11:59pm on 15 January 2026

Consultation description

The Employment Rights Bill introduced a new day-one right to unpaid bereavement leave for employees who experience the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.

We are seeking views to ensure the new entitlement is shaped with the needs of employees and employers at the forefront.

This consultation seeks views on:

• eligibility criteria
• types of pregnancy loss in scope
• when and how bereavement leave can be taken
• notice and evidence requirements

We welcome views from all stakeholders, particularly those with insight into this sensitive and personal topic. This may include charities, individuals with lived experience, and employers.

See the public consultations privacy notice.

Documents

Consultation on leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss

PDF, 717 KB, 36 pages

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Options assessment for new rights to unpaid bereavement leave including pregnancy loss

PDF, 759 KB, 50 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

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Published 23 October 2025

Last updated 22 September 2026 — Show all updates

1. 22 September 2026

   Government response to the 'Make Work Pay: leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss' consultation added to the page.

2. 1 December 2025

   Options assessment for new rights to unpaid bereavement leave including pregnancy loss added.

3. 23 October 2025

   First published.