Working people in Newcastle will have new rights to take time away from work following the death of a loved one or the loss of a pregnancy, under new protections being introduced by the Labour Government.
From April 2027, employees who lose a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling will have a legal right to bereavement leave, with the protections also covering step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships.
Labour is also introducing a new right for women and their partners who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks, including miscarriage and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers, to take up to two weeks of unpaid leave.
The changes mean that people going through some of the most difficult moments in their lives will no longer have to rely solely on the discretion of their employer to give them time to grieve.
Cllr Ged Bell, Leader of the Newcastle Labour Group, welcomed the announcement, saying:
“Losing someone you love or experiencing the loss of a pregnancy can be devastating. At a time like that, worrying about whether you can take time away from work should be the last thing on your mind.
“No one should have to fight for time to grieve, and these new rights are another example of the difference having a Labour Government can make to working people here in Newcastle and across the country.
“I particularly welcome the recognition of pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. For too long, too many people have been expected simply to carry on despite experiencing an incredibly painful loss.
“Labour is changing that and giving people greater dignity, compassion and security when they need it most.”
The new bereavement leave will also be flexible, allowing people to take it within 56 weeks of their loss and as individual days rather than having to take all of their leave at once.
Employees will not be required to provide evidence of their bereavement and will be legally protected from detriment or dismissal for using their new right.
The changes build on existing parental bereavement rights and form part of Labour’s wider plans to strengthen rights and security for working people.
For Newcastle Labour, these changes are about a simple principle: when someone is grieving, they should be given the time and dignity to do so.