Bereavement Leave Notification Letter: Free Template and What to Include

If you need to notify employer of bereavement and request statutory leave entitlement, a written letter is the recommended first step — it creates a clear record and shows you're pursuing the matter formally. Below is what a strong bereavement leave notification should include.

What this letter needs to cover

• State the relationship to the deceased
• Say which right applies: Parental Bereavement Leave, Bereaved Partner's Paternity Leave, time off for dependants, or compassionate leave under your contract
• State the expected dates of absence
• Request written confirmation of the leave being granted

Notifying your employer correctly

If you take Parental Bereavement Leave within 8 weeks of the death, tell your employer before you would normally start work on the first day of the leave; after that, give at least one week's notice. Notice does not have to be in writing. Putting this notification in writing, even briefly, creates a clear record of when your leave started and protects your position around pay and return-to-work arrangements.

What to include before you send it

• Confirmation of the date of the loss and the date your leave began or will begin
• A clear statement that you're taking your statutory entitlement to Parental Bereavement Leave
• Whether you're taking the leave as a single block or in two separate weeks (both are permitted)
• Any request for statutory pay, if you meet the qualifying criteria

Timing your notification

You have flexibility here — the leave can be taken any time within 56 weeks of the loss, which recognises that grief and its practical demands don't always follow a fixed timetable. There's no requirement to take it immediately, though most people choose to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do both parents get this leave separately?
Yes — each parent is entitled to their own 2 weeks, independently of what the other parent takes or whether they're entitled to it at all.

Can I split the two weeks up?
Yes, you can take the 2 weeks as a single continuous block or as two separate weeks, whichever suits your circumstances.

[Your Name]
[Your Address, e.g. 12 Pine Grove, Edinburgh, EH3 9ZZ]
[Recipient Name or Job Title, e.g. Line Manager]
[Employer Name, e.g. Creative Media Solutions]
[Employer Address, e.g. 50 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2HT]
[Date, e.g. 19 October 2026]

Dear [Name, e.g. Mrs Jones],

Subject: Notification of Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave

I am writing to notify you that I will be taking Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave. This is following the devastating loss of my child.

[In Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), use this paragraph:]
I am exercising my right to take job-protected leave under the Employment Rights Act 1996.

[In Northern Ireland, use this paragraph instead:]
I am exercising my right to take job-protected leave under the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022.

My leave arrangements will be as follows:
• Date of the loss: [Date, e.g. 16 October 2026]
• Amount of leave: [One week / Two weeks / Two separate blocks of one week]
• Start date of leave: [Date, e.g. 19 October 2026]

[Optional paragraph if you qualify for statutory pay:]
I also wish to claim Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay for this period. I confirm that I meet the criteria regarding weekly earnings and length of service.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]