Press releases
Miscarriage Association launches Leave for Every Loss campaign calling for bereavement leave reform
The Miscarriage Association is today calling for a vital change in the law so that women and their partners who experience a pre-24 week pregnancy loss have the legal right to take bereavement leave from work.
The Leave for Every Loss campaign comes in response to overwhelming public support for equitable parental bereavement leave and highlights the emotional, physical, and social toll of pregnancy loss.
Under current legislation, statutory bereavement leave (two weeks for both parents) only applies after 24 weeks of pregnancy, leaving those who experience miscarriage or other pre-24-week loss, to rely on sick leave or the goodwill of their employers. Partners currently have no legal entitlement to leave, further compounding the taboo of miscarriage in addition to the stress and isolation felt by grieving families.
Survey findings show overwhelming public support
A new, nationally representative poll commissioned by the Miscarriage Association and carried out by Public First*, highlights overwhelming public support for bereavement leave for pre-24-week loss:
• 9 in 10 (89%) respondents agree that the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy can be felt as a bereavement.
• 8 in 10 (79%) agree that bereavement leave for miscarriage should match the rights currently given to parents who lose a child or experience stillbirth (the loss of a baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy).
Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive of the Miscarriage Association, said:
“Pregnancy loss at any gestation can be truly devastating and for most who experience it, it represents the death of their baby, regardless of how early it happens. Those grieving deserve the time and support to begin to heal without the added pressure of financial or workplace insecurity. It is deeply encouraging that the overwhelming majority of those polled recognise the importance of this.
“Requiring someone to take sick leave after a miscarriage reinforces harmful feelings of failure or self-blame. While it involves physical symptoms, miscarriage is not simply an illness and it’s time for the law to reflect this.”
The UK Parliament Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), chaired by Sarah Owen MP, is currently examining the workplace impacts of miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. As part of a one-off evidence session under the umbrella inquiry into Equality at Work, MPs heard the case for extending statutory parental bereavement leave to include these losses. Evidence was provided by the Miscarriage Association, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, consultant gynaecologist and trauma expert Dr Jessica Farren, HR professionals from sectors such as the NHS and private industry, the CIPD and the GMB union, all supporting the need for change in bereavement rights.
Sarah Owen MP, who supports the Miscarriage Association’s campaign, said ahead of the inquiry:
“Like thousands of women, I have sadly experienced pregnancy loss, so this inquiry is personal.
“I was not prepared for the grief of miscarrying. It happened at work during my first pregnancy. I was even more shocked to find I was not entitled to bereavement leave but legally had to take sick leave.
“I was not sick, but grief stricken, harbouring a deep sense of loss. This happens to approximately one in four pregnancies and yet legislation has not caught up with this stark reality. The law urgently needs to change to give everyone who is the one in four the time to heal.”
Corporate and charity sector backing
The Miscarriage Association is proud to have the backing of leading employers – including the Co-op – in supporting their Leave for Every Loss campaign – as well as the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
Shirine Khoury-Haq, Chief Executive of Co-op, said:
“At Co-op, we believe that pregnancy loss is a profound experience of grief and bereavement that should be met with compassion and meaningful support. Our partnership with the Miscarriage Association to develop a dedicated policy has shown us how progressive workplace measures can make a real difference, helping colleagues navigate loss with dignity and care.
“The ‘Leave for Every Loss’ campaign is a vital step towards ensuring no one facing pregnancy loss is left without the time or support they need. Legislative reform in this area isn’t just about fairness – it’s about recognising the realities of loss as a form of bereavement and building workplaces that truly care. We are proud to stand alongside the Miscarriage Association in calling for this much-needed change.”
Leave for Every Loss is also endorsed by prominent pregnancy, baby loss and women’s rights charities, including Tommy’s, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, Sands, Antenatal Results and Choices, Aching Arms, the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), and Pregnant Then Screwed.
Trailblazing organisations already offering paid leave for pregnancy loss include NHS England, John Lewis, Channel 4, the Co-op, and M&S.
At the WEC inquiry, Thomas Simons, Chief Human Resources and Organisation Development Officer at NHS England – which provides two weeks of fully paid leave for those experiencing a miscarriage and one week for their partners – stated:
“There’s no reason why employers can’t put this in place … We looked at what the maximum level of exposure would be across the NHS, and we equated it to be 0.01%, and that was without considering the benefits on retention, turnover, absence, staff engagement, productivity … It was negligible.”
The NHS is the largest public sector employer of women.
Voices of lived experience
The charity’s Leave for Every Loss campaign draws on the stories of those affected by miscarriage, many of whom report struggling to access support or feeling pressured to return to work too soon. In some cases, like Nicola’s, partners were unable to attend hospital appointments or invasive medical procedures due to a lack of workplace rights.
Nicola McGowan said:
“I was very lucky and was given bereavement leave by my employer, but my husband had a difficult time. There were no options for annual leave, and he didn’t get paid if he phoned in sick.
“After miscarrying twins, I was taken straight to A&E for surgery. I phoned my husband at work to let him know, and his boss said it was selfish of me not to have waited to call until the end of the working day. My husband had lost his babies, too.”
A call for action
As it is currently presented, the Employment Rights Bill, progressing through Parliament, paves the way for bereavement leave for a greater range of losses, but does not include pre-24-week pregnancy loss. The Miscarriage Association wants to see the bill urgently amended to correct this inequality.
For more information about Leave for Every Loss and to back the campaign, visit the Miscarriage Association’s website. Campaign images can be found, here.
For case studies, or to arrange a media interview, contact Victoria Sowerby, Head of Communications & Campaigns on victoria@miscarriageassociation.org.uk or call 01924 339207
*a nationally representative poll carried out by Public First from 18th-20th November 2024.
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Notes to editors
The Miscarriage Association
The Miscarriage Association provides free support and information to anyone affected by miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.
For support, or more information, go to www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
You can contact our support team on 01924 200799, email info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk or reach out via live chat on our website.
Quotes of support
Clea Hamer, Chief Executive of Sands:
“Sands is pleased to endorse the Leave for Every Loss campaign. Emotional and physical recovery following pregnancy loss takes time. Leave following the loss of a pregnancy should be statutory. All employees who have been affected by a miscarriage, including partners should be entitled to the same bereavement leave as those whose loss occurred after 24 weeks.”
Munira Oza, Chief Executive of The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust:
“As well as the physical impacts of ectopic pregnancy, many describe the intense emotional upheaval. To help recovery, it is important to allow time and foster support, for all who need it. We value and back this important campaign.”
Leanne Turner, Founder and CEO of baby loss charity, Aching Arms:
Leanne was 23 weeks pregnant when her baby died. Her and her partner were only entitled to sick leave and were expected to provide a sick note from their GPs.
Leanne says: “Looking back now I feel I was one of the lucky ones because I had a very compassionate manager who, along with my Union Representative, advocated for me to have more time and access to counselling.”
Aching Arms has been told by others that they felt very rushed back to work as it was very inconvenient for them that they were not there. One parent said, “My husband was made to take our baby’s funeral as holiday.”
Jane Fisher, Director, Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC), said:
“We at ARC are keen to ensure parents who have been through the painful experience of ending their wanted pregnancy before 24 weeks because of a diagnosis are given bereavement leave. We know from our almost 40 years of supporting parents through termination for medical reasons that It is so important that they are given the right to take time away from work to help them cope with this complex loss.”
Angela McConville, Chief Executive at NCT, said:
“The loss of a baby is heartbreaking at any stage of pregnancy and the current disparity in leave legislation overlooks the profound emotional and physical toll this can have on grieving parents. Every parent should have the space to grieve with the support of equitable, compassionate and flexible workplace bereavement policies.”
Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT – The Teachers’ Union, said:
“Under the present law workers experiencing the trauma of miscarriage have to rely on the goodwill of their employer if they need time off after experiencing a miscarriage.
“Those experiencing miscarriage should not have their grief compounded by having to go cap in hand to their employer or worrying about whether they can afford time off.
“In a compassionate society, paid miscarriage leave should be a statutory right for all workers in all sectors.
“NASUWT believes every teacher who experiences pregnancy loss should be given the time and space they need to deal with their loss and bereavement and recover and recuperate.
“As such, we support this campaign which gives the Government the opportunity to right this deeply unjust situation and show compassion to all who find themselves affected by the trauma and grief of miscarriage.”
Women & Equality Committee inquiry: Watch here.
Rhea Wolfson, Head of Internal & Industrial Relations, GMB Union (taken from the WEC hearing):
“The basic safety net is not there for people who are suffering pregnancy loss before the 24th week of pregnancy. Those rights are not there and not included in the Employment Rights Bill.”
Nicole Basra, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Director UK & Ireland, Dentsu International (taken from the WEC hearing):
“Twenty-four weeks is very late to offer support, because people suffer a lot prior to that.”
Polling by Public First
Public First carried out a nationally representative poll of 2,009 people from 18-20 November 2024. Poll results are based on the 1,842 respondents who consented to answer questions about pregnancy and pregnancy loss. Public First is a policy, strategy and opinion research consultancy, a company partner of the Market Research Society and a member of the British Polling Council. See www.publicfirst.co.uk.