Compassionate leave (bereavement leave)

Compassionate leave, or bereavement leave, is time off work when someone close to you dies. By law employees can take a reasonable amount of time off when a dependant dies, though it does not have to be paid unless the contract says so, and parents whose child dies under 18, or whose baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy, can take two weeks’ parental bereavement leave. Many employers offer more under their own policy, and Northern Ireland has its own rules.

Who decides how much you get

Beyond the legal minimum, compassionate leave is granted by your employer, ideally under a written workplace bereavement policy. Most employers offer a few days to a week, paid, and many are more generous than their written policy if asked. The time is there for the first shock, the practical and funeral arrangements, and for grieving.

What the law gives

Time off for dependants covers the death of a spouse, partner, child or parent, or of someone in your household who depended on you. There is no general right to paid bereavement leave in the UK. Parental bereavement leave can be taken within 56 weeks, and eligible parents may also get Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay. If your partner dies after your child’s birth or adoption, bereaved partner’s paternity leave allows eligible fathers or partners up to 52 weeks’ leave within the first year. The Employment Rights Act 2025 creates a general right to unpaid bereavement leave, which Acas expects in 2027.

When the leave runs out

After that it is usually annual leave or sick leave; a GP will sign you off for grief, and it is a legitimate reason. If your employer is unreasonable, Acas runs a free helpline and publishes guidance on time off for bereavement. Money is a separate matter: Bereavement Support Payment comes from the Department for Work and Pensions, not from your employer.

In Northern Ireland

Eligibility rules for parental bereavement leave and pay differ for employees in Northern Ireland, for bereavements on or after 6 April 2026.