What is Time to Grieve?
What are we fighting for?
Time to Grieve campaigns for two weeks' paid bereavement leave for all employees.
The law has changed to recognise bereavement leave as a legal right, but it's unpaid, which means millions of workers still can't afford to use it.
We're fighting to ensure that dignity in grief isn't a luxury reserved for those with savings in the bank.
Why your voice matters right now
The Government consultation closed in January. Our initial petition has demonstrated widespread public support. Now comes the critical phase.
The Government are now making final decisions on how the Employment Rights Act 2025 will work in practice. The regulations being drafted in the coming months will determine whether bereavement leave truly supports grieving employees, or whether it remains a right only those who can afford it can use.
We've built momentum. We've gathered evidence. We've demonstrated that this matters to thousands of people across the country. Now we're ready to engage directly with decision-makers as they finalise the details that will shape how millions of people experience grief and work for years to come.
The window for influence is right now, before regulations are set in stone, whilst ministers are still weighing options and civil servants are still drafting guidance.
We're demanding that they:
Listen to bereaved voices, not just employers - engage meaningfully with those who've lived this reality and the charities supporting them
Acknowledge the class divide in grief - recognise that unpaid leave is no solution for millions of lower-paid workers
Design regulations that actually work - create a framework that's compassionate, accessible and enforceable from day one
We've shown them the problem. We've demonstrated the support. Now we're at the table, ready to fight for regulations that work for everyone, not just those with savings in the bank.
The Problem
Grief doesn't wait for weekends, annual leave or financial stability. It affects all of us, often without warning.
Employees in the UK have no legal right to paid time off when someone they love dies. Many are forced back to work within days, or risk losing income or job security.
Marie Curie found that 49% of bereaved employees said they couldn't afford to take time off and returned to work before they were ready.
Especially for those on lower incomes, the choice is stark: grieve, or get paid.
What has changed?
Progress - but not enough
The Employment Rights Act 2025 represents a significant milestone.
For the first time, bereavement is recognised in law as something employees are entitled to take time away from work for, rather than something they must beg permission for. The Act creates a day-one right to bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
This is genuinely historic. Previous governments refused to legislate on bereavement leave at all, leaving employees entirely at the mercy of their employers' discretion. The Act establishes that grief is a legitimate reason to step away from work, and that employees shouldn't have to justify or negotiate this during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
But there's a critical flaw: the leave is unpaid.
Unpaid leave isn't a solution. It works for those with savings, supportive families or well-paid jobs. For the millions of people working in retail, hospitality, care work and other lower-paid sectors, unpaid leave might as well not exist. The choice remains the same: grieve, or pay your rent.
Consider what bereavement actually involves: registering the death, arranging a funeral, notifying banks and utilities, clearing a home, supporting other family members, and processing your own grief. This takes time, time that those on low incomes simply cannot afford to take unpaid.
Why our campaign continues
The legal framework now exists. Our campaign continues because we refuse to accept that your right to grieve should depend on your pay packet. We're fighting for two weeks' paid bereavement leave for all employees, because dignity in grief shouldn't be a luxury.
The Employment Rights Act 2025 proves that Parliament recognises bereavement leave as necessary. Now we must ensure it's actually accessible to everyone who needs it.
What we are calling for
We are calling for:
Two weeks' paid bereavement leave as standard for all employees from day one
Meaningful engagement with bereaved people and charities in the regulatory drafting process
Regulations that acknowledge the disproportionate impact of unpaid leave on lower-paid workers
A framework that's compassionate, accessible and enforceable from implementation
How you can help
Take action:
Share your story - Help decision-makers understand the real impact
Contact your MP - Let them know this matters to their constituents
Sign our petition - Add your voice to thousands calling for change