Ministers are still determining which relatives will be eligible for the new leave, with a list of options under consideration.
New government proposals would grant workers one week of leave upon the death of a distant relative.
Labour’s bill proposes leave for mourning relatives including in-laws, cousins, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
Employees would also qualify for unpaid leave for a death in their “chosen family” (close, non-related relationships functioning as family).
The proposed expansion, which currently mandates leave only for the death of a minor child, is one of many measures in the new Employment Rights Bill. The proposals grant all workers, starting from their first day, the right to one week of unpaid bereavement leave, usable within 56 days of the relative’s death.
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Which Relatives Will Be Included Will Be Determined
Ministers are seeking input on which relatives should be covered, having listed options in a consultation document.
The options range from a highly restricted definition covering only immediate family to a much broader scope including extended relatives and close friends.
One option proposes basing bereavement leave eligibility not on the family relation, but on the significance of the deceased person in the worker’s life. Joanna Marchong of the Adam Smith Institute argues the proposal, while appearing compassionate, threatens significant, unaffordable costs and administrative burdens on businesses.
Allowing nearly any personal relationship to trigger statutory leave creates major uncertainty for firms.
Employers Face Challenges Due to Uncertainty
Employers face operational disruption and the need for expensive temporary hiring or overtime due to uncertainty over when staff will take leave, its duration, and the required documentation.
The legislation will not cover the death of a pet. However, one of the consultative options considered was “another type of relationship not listed above,” which suggests a broader scope was initially contemplated. Policy adviser Alex Hall-Chen (IoD) believes the proposals could add hidden costs for businesses.