A Call for Change: Advocating Paid Bereavement Leave Following Miscarriage

In a significant push for policy reform, a group of MPs is advocating for legally mandated paid bereavement leave for parents who experience miscarriage, defined as loss during the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. Currently, only parents who lose a child after 24 weeks receive two weeks of paid leave. This initiative is being discussed in the context of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill.

The report highlights the emotional toll of miscarriage, with testimonies from individuals like Anna Malnutt, who returned to work just three days after her loss, feeling pressured and unsure about the appropriateness of time away from work. Despite a supportive employer, this led to long-term mental health struggles and ultimately leaving her job. Malnutt emphasizes the importance of time for grieving, not just for mothers but also for partners who share the loss.

The committee’s report suggests that the right to paid bereavement leave should extend to various forms of pregnancy loss, including ectopic pregnancies, IVF losses, and terminations for medical reasons. While some employers, like NHS Trusts and the Co-op, offer policies for such losses, these benefits are not universally available.

The committee chair, MP Sarah Owen, and other advocates stress that categorizing miscarriage under sick leave is not only inadequate but also emphasizes a sense of illness rather than grief. With about 20% of pregnancies ending in loss before 24 weeks, many parents are left without the necessary time to heal, causing financial and emotional strain.

As the Employment Rights Bill progresses through Parliament, government officials have recognized the importance of this reform and are working towards expanding bereavement leave alongside improvements to parental leave rights. This shift aims to enhance support for grieving parents and eliminate the financial vulnerabilities currently faced by many.