'I went back after three days': calls grow for miscarriage leave


MPs have called for parents who experience pregnancy loss, including miscarriage, to be entitled to paid bereavement leave under the upcoming Employment Rights Bill. Currently, only those who lose a child after 24 weeks are entitled to two weeks’ paid leave. However, according to a report by the cross-party Women and Equalities Committee, more than one in five pregnancies end before 24 weeks, and around 20% of women will experience baby loss in their lifetime. The committee is proposing an extension of bereavement leave to cover ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, IVF embryo transfer loss, and terminations for medical reasons.

The report argues that sick leave is an “inappropriate and inadequate” way of supporting employees following the loss of a baby. The low rate of statutory sick pay means that some employees cannot afford to take time off work. Furthermore, the report highlights that several employers, including NHS Trusts and the Co-op, have policies in place for employees who experience baby loss, but this is not universal.

Anna Malnutt, who has had three pregnancy losses, believes that the introduction of paid leave would be “life changing.” Malnutt returned to work three days after her first miscarriage, even when her boss was supportive, because she “didn’t really know how long was OK to take.” After two additional pregnancy losses, Malnutt felt “like a shadow of herself” and suffered from stress and anxiety, which led to her leaving her job. Malnutt’s husband, who attended meetings and work trips during their pregnancy losses, “never really got time or space to grieve for that himself,” which prevented him from supporting his wife in the way he would have wanted to.

Kath Abrahams, the CEO of pregnancy and baby charity, Tommy’s, commented on the report, saying that “It is unacceptable that sickness absence often remains the only option, potentially leaving women and their partners financially vulnerable.” The government’s Employment Rights Bill will introduce a new right to bereavement leave, as well as make paternity and parental leave a day one right, and strengthen protections for pregnant women and new mothers returning to work

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