Bereaved parents in the United Kingdom will gain immediate rights to paternity leave and up to 52 weeks off work starting Apr. 6, 2026, under new provisions of the Employment Rights Act 2025.
The reforms eliminate the previous 26-week qualifying period that forced bereaved fathers and partners to rely on employer goodwill when their partner died during or shortly after childbirth. Under the old system, surviving parents who had not worked for their employer for at least nine months had no legal right to take time off to grieve and care for their newborn.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Parental Rights
The new Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave provides up to 52 weeks of leave for fathers and partners who lose their partner before their child's first birthday. This represents a significant expansion from the standard two weeks of paternity leave available to other new parents, according to The Guardian.
The changes were driven in part by campaigning from individuals like Aaron Horsey from Nottinghamshire, who faced an impossible situation when he lost his partner shortly after childbirth, but had not worked long enough at his job to qualify for leave.
Horsey launched a two-year campaign after his wife Berndette died in childbirth in 2022, bringing his concerns to Labour MP Chris Elmore, who introduced a Private Member's Bill that eventually received Royal Assent as the Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Act 2024.
The legislation addresses a critical issue affecting approximately 180 mothers who die annually in the United Kingdom within a year of their child's birth, Sky News reported. Recent figures show maternal deaths have increased significantly, with 252 deaths recorded between 2022 and 2024, representing a 20 percent rise compared to rates from 2009 to 2011.
Broader Family-Friendly Reforms
Beyond bereavement, the act introduces day-one rights to paternity leave and unpaid parental leave for all new parents, removing barriers that previously prevented workers from changing jobs without losing their leave entitlements.
This means employees will no longer need 26 weeks of service for paternity leave or 12 months for unpaid parental leave. However, statutory paternity pay still requires 26 weeks of prior service and will be paid at £194.32 ($261.80) per week from April 2026, up from the current £187.18 ($252.20).
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated the reforms will ensure "every new parent can properly take time off when they have a child, and no one is forced to work while ill just to make ends meet." Simon Kelleher from Working Families noted the changes mean "parents can change jobs without losing essential leave entitlements."
To help families access their entitlements quickly, the government has shortened the notice period for newly eligible parents to 28 days, allowing them to give notice starting Feb. 18, 2026. The reforms will affect more than 18 million workers across the country, with particular benefits for those in insecure or lower-paid positions, as per the Grand Pinnacle Tribune.
