To think Bereavement Leave Rights are unfair

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It’s great that an early miscarriage will now mean a statutory right to time off. But surely the sudden death of, say a parent or sibling should also give the same basic rights?

Yeah. Can’t argue with that.

They don’t already?? Shocking!

I thought they did.

Companies do have a bereavement policy though. We do get time off after a death.

They already do

Most employers do give time off for death of an immediate relative, but you are right, it should be statutory for a few days off

No unfortunately not. And whilst an early miscarriage is heartbreaking, I just can’t see how it’s worse than losing a parent you are close to.

It should be a legal right though - not at the employer’s discretion

I agree OP, I've suffered miscarriage, and the death of my parents, and they are both awful, but in different ways. However, most companies do offer leave for the death of a parent or sibling, even though they're not obliged to by law, but I do think that it should be.

But they're very archaic to modern family life - if (God forbid) my step daughter passed, I'd (technically) have no bereavement leave right, despite the fact i've been in her life for 17years.

It makes no sense to me that you can only have bereavement leave for a close family member. Some people are closer to some friends than they are family. Surely it should depend on how it affects you?

But how fo you police it? How do you prove that you were particularly close to a non-relation? Its much easier to have a clearly drained relationship. Also, with the occasional exception, everybody has just two parents. So there's a limit as to how many times you will be affected. Whereas an unethical employee could claim for a friend just beyond going through the death notices each month.

It's also difficult in families where things aren't the norm.

I was brought up by my grandparents from the age of 7 (and was with them 50% of the time from 4).

I was entitled to one day off when my Nana died. I had to be signed off by the Dr with stress to plan the funeral.

However, years later, when work heard that my father had died I was instantly offered a week off. I hadn't spent any time with his abusive arse since I was 7 and hadn't even clapped eyes on him since I was 14.

Workplaces should have a flexible bereavement policy that fits circumstances.

Maybe it would have been better to link to the new info you're referring to Op?
Not sure what you mean by "early miscarriage" - won't the new rules say "miscarriage" - since stillbirth is already covered by maternity leave.

I fairly sure most companies do but it's more of a choice thing than law thing.
I can certainly see why it would be very good if it became law but it could get very complicated.
How far should it reach to ? Just DM, DD, DCs , brother and sister

Aunts and uncles ? Cousins?
Grandparents ?

Would / should it cover step dm / dd / dcs / brother / sister ?
DCs brought up by other family members ?
Estranged DM/DD

Some people will use it as a excuse, 'great aunt maude was like a mother to me'

I would rather some people were allowed to take the piss than genuine people not have time to grieve properly.

My asshole of an ex boss refused leave for me to go to my grandad's funeral. That was bad enough.

X post with @KrisAkabusi , we agree .

I believe the new legislation allows for one week of full pay for babies lost prior to 24 weeks.

Many employers provide for paid contractual sick leave which has been the way around this and other bereavements and caring for terminally ill close friends/relatives. Many employers do not and its fir the employees of these that the legislation is helpful.

I just meant that most miscarriages are early (before 12 weeks), so this change in law will affect many who have had an early miscarriage.

Parental bereavement leave is for either parent. The plan is now to include miscarriages prior to 24 weeks. I believe it is a maximum of 2 weeks stat pay.

Even if it has not been legal right most places have given leave for death of close family for many years, how can you begrudge leave for miscarriage.

Trauma another one left behind. Fit note started before I even got home and I was going to make a miraculous recovery in 8 days.

Really horrible been back at work nearly 6 weeks but on arrival today to one of the last places I went before my world turned upside down, I found that more upsetting.

Would never have believed harder and longer to get past a skin infection then spinal surgery. Can’t stand looking at scar but don’t want plastics now either as would hate to lose more skin if this unknown infection ever comes back for me.

I was way more affected at the death of my cat than either of my parents.
DF - I took a couple of days compassionate leave to sort out & attend funeral - actual death was at Christmas, so was off anyway.
probably took a compassionate leave day to attend mothers' funeral.
Took annual leave when my cat died.

I do think this is a good thing for individuals going through miscarriages, but I’ve no idea how companies will manage this in practice, as the statistics on miscarriages are shocking, it’s incredibly common, and there will be loads of employees making use of this leave. I work in a very small team but over the past 2 years, all of my team have suffered an early miscarriage, and one of them has done so twice.

I thought it was compassionate leave for first degree relatives, anything else is at the employers discretion. I suppose it has to be like that or else where do you stop ? I think most employers would be sympathetic if you had a relative that you were particularly close to or friend that died and you needed time off. Problem is, sometimes we do just have to suck it up and take annual leave or unpaid leave if we really want the time off but it can't be sanctioned under other circumstances. I've taken unpaid leave before to be with my kids when needed for various circumstances. My way of saying "I will be taking this time off" but equally not expecting my employer to pay for it. The time off meant more than the payment.