Bereavement leave and procedures

The rules have attracted some criticism for their complexity, although the Government maintains that the object of the regulations, which grant employed parents two weeks’ leave (Parental Bereavement Leave) and possible pay (Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay), is flexibility — so that parents can take leave at short notice.

The two weeks’ leave can be taken in either one block of two weeks or as two separate blocks of one week each. The leave must be taken within 56 weeks of the date of the child’s death.

The new rules distinguish the notice required to take leave very soon after the death from the requirement for leave to be taken later in the 56 weeks’ window. In both cases, the notice required is minimal.