The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill has taken the final step towards becoming law.  

The Bill proposes introducing a minimum of two weeks’ leave for employees whose child has died. This will include parents whose baby is stillborn. 

We welcome the Bill and the proposals to ensure all parents, including those who experience a stillbirth or neonatal death, have a right to at least two weeks’ paid leave from work in addition to their existing parental leave entitlement. 

We want to ensure that the new leave and pay are administered to be as flexible as possible – for example, so that parents can take leave as individual days, and that they can add the bereavement leave onto the end of their maternity, paternity or shared parental leave. 

Our chief executive, Dr Clea Harmer, said: “Sands welcomes the progress of the Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Bill which has taken the final step towards becoming law. For parents whose baby is stillborn, or dies during or after birth, financial hardship should not be added to the list of their concerns at this incredibly distressing time.

“Ensuring that working parents are able to have two weeks’ paid leave in which to begin the grieving process is a big step forward. It will be important for this law to now be implemented sensitively and quickly so that all those whose baby sadly dies can access the new entitlements.”

For further information about the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill, visit the UK Parliament website.