Bereavement leave

Yes, employees have the right to time off if: 

• their child is stillborn or dies under the age of 18 

• a dependant dies. 

A dependant can be: 

• a partner, spouse or civil partner 

• a child or parent 

• someone who lives with you (not tenants or lodgers) 

• someone who relies on you, for example an elderly neighbour 

If the person was not a dependant, there is no legal right to time off, but your employer may still allow it. 

There is no set amount of leave in law. 

You’re entitled to a ‘reasonable’ amount of time off to deal with things like: 

• arranging or attending a funeral 

• handling urgent matters after the death 

How much time you can take will depend on your situation and your employer’s policy. 

There’s no automatic right to paid bereavement leave. 

Some employers do offer paid leave, so it’s best to check: 

• your contract 

• your workplace policy 

• with your manager 

If it’s unpaid, you may be able to use annual leave, sick leave or unpaid leave instead. 

If your child dies under 18, you can take up to 2 weeks of parental bereavement leave. 

This can be taken as: 

• 2 weeks together, or 

• 2 separate weeks 

You may also be eligible for statutory parental bereavement pay. 

Yes, if the person who died was a dependant. 

If they were not a dependant, your employer might still allow time off. This is sometimes called: 

• compassionate leave 

• bereavement leave 

• special leave 

Let your employer know as soon as you can. 

It’s also a good idea to check: 

• your contract 

• your workplace policy 

If there’s no policy, you and your manager can agree what time off works best.