Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions

Extend statutory two weeks’ paid bereavement leave to all employees

Closed 363 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government should extend the statutory two-week paid leave for parents who suffer a stillbirth or lose a child up to the age of 18 to all employees who suffer the loss of a close family member.
There is already a Private Members' Bill before Parliament calling for this to happen. If it passes it would see the introduction of statutory paid bereavement leave for all those who lose a close relative.

We support it, and if passed should help mitigate adverse long-term consequences for the mental & physical health of those bereaved & so also be beneficial to our wider society & economy.

As Patricia Gibson MP said, “relying on an employer’s goodwill to grant compassionate leave is unfair and clearly doesn’t work, with the greatest impact being felt by those on low incomes”.

Timeline

10 Jan 2022 Petition opened for signatures
10 Jul 2022 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 363
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions
Opened 10 Jan 2022
Closed 10 Jul 2022

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.