You can take compassionate leave to deal with a family emergency or the death of a loved one. UK law preserves your right to take time off, but it doesn’t guarantee that you will be compensated.
The truth is that there is no law that states all employers have to grant paid compassionate leave. Pay is usually a benefit that is stated out in a contract, but the right to take time off is a legal right.
What Is Compassionate Leave?
Compassionate leave is time off for personal problems that are too sensitive to deal with at work.
- The death or serious sickness of a family member.
- Responsibilities for emergency treatment that weren’t planned.
- Arranging or going to a funeral.
It is distinct from “Time Off for Dependants.” While “compassionate leave” is the term companies use for their own leave policies, “time off for dependants” is a statutory legal right under the Employment Rights Act 1996 for handling immediate, unforeseen emergencies.
The Rules on Pay
Your boss is only required by law to grant you time off, not compensation. Your salary status depends on:
- Your Work Agreement: The CIPD Health and Wellbeing at Work 2025/26 report, says that about 67% of UK businesses have a formal, specific bereavement policy that involves helping employees through different periods of life, such as giving them paid time off.
- Company Policy: The NHS and the civil service are two big companies that often have their own particular leave policies.
- Manager Discretion: In smaller organizations, remuneration may be set on a case-by-case basis based on the situation.
Your Legal Rights in 2026
The Employment Rights Act 2025 made big changes to UK employment law. Starting in 2026, these are the main protections in place:
- Day One Protection: Now, the right to take unpaid emergency leave is a “Day One” right. From the first day of work, you have the right to this protection.
- Parental Bereavement Leave: This is the only type of bereavement leave that has a legal entitlement to remuneration. Parents who lose a child under 18 or have a stillbirth after 24 weeks can take two weeks off.
- Statutory Pay Rate (2026): For the 2026/27 tax year, Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is £194.32 per week (or 90% of earnings, whichever is lower).
How Many Days Off Do You Get?
The legislation says that employees must have “reasonable” time off, but it doesn’t say how many days that should be. Most UK employers observe these rules, according to Acas:
- Immediate family: 3 to 5 days (typically paid).
- Close family members: (such as siblings and grandparents) typically get 1 to 3 days off, and they often get paid for it.
- Extended family or friends: One day for the funeral (not always compensated).
Financial Options for Unpaid Leave
If your contract doesn’t include pay, 2026 reforms provide new safety nets:
- Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) Update: The 3-day waiting period for SSP ends on April 6, 2026. If sadness or stress affects your health, you can get SSP from the first day of your illness.
- 2026 SSP Rate: The weekly rate is £123.25. If you earn below the lower earnings limit, you receive 80% of your average weekly earnings.
- Annual Leave: Using your vacation time is still the most typical option to keep getting full pay when you’re away for a long time.
How to Request Leave
- Notify Early: Inform your manager as soon as possible. Legal protection requires notice “as soon as reasonably practicable.”
- Verify the Handbook: To be sure you know how much you can get paid, look for “Special Leave” or “Bereavement.”
- Confirm in Writing: Send your boss an email to find out if the days will be compensated or if you need to take annual leave to offset the gap.
FAQs
Do you get compassionate leave for grandparents?
Legally, a grandparent is a “dependent” only if they rely on you for care. However, most modern workplace policies include grandparents in their compassionate leave definitions.
Can an employer refuse compassionate leave?
No, an employer cannot refuse “reasonable” unpaid time off to handle an emergency involving a statutory dependant. They can refuse leave for friends or distant relatives if not specified in your contract.
Do I need to provide proof?
While Acas recommends that employers act with trust, they are permitted to ask for a funeral notice or obituary for extended paid absences.
