Support our Leave for Every Loss Campaign
We’re 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.
Our 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.
Statutory bereavement leave (two weeks for both parents) currently 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 have no legal entitlement to leave, further compounding the taboo of miscarriage in addition to the stress and isolation felt by grieving families.
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. We want to see the bill urgently amended to correct this inequality.
For our full press release, click here.
How can you support us?
We’re proud to have the backing of fellow charities: Tommy’s, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, Sands, Antenatal Results and Choices, Aching Arms, the NCT and Pregnant Then Screwed.
Our campaign has also been formally backed by the Co-operative, the Trades Union Congress, and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
Any effort, big or small, to raise the profile of our campaign can make a big difference. Here are some ideas of how you can get involved, and help us achieve Leave for Every Loss:
For our supporters:
- Download some of our social media campaign images to post on your own social media channels, and tag us @miscarriageassociation.
Suggested wording could include:
‘We’re proud to support the Miscarriage Association’s Leave For Every Loss campaign – calling for pre-24-week loss to be included in bereavement leave legislation.
Pre-24 week loss is the only type of loss excluded from bereavement leave laws, leaving all those affected unable to access the same level of support as post-24 week loss.
Every pregnancy loss matters – it’s time to give Leave For Every Loss.
To find out more about the @miscarriageassociation campaign, click here/the link in our bio. (sign post to our press release)
For the media:
- Help us raise awareness by printing our press release, or get in touch with victoria@miscarriageassociation.org.uk for further comment or case studies.
- Consider the images you use alongside your articles carefully. Pictures displaying baby bumps or pregnancy tests can be really triggering, so we advise that you opt for something displaying support and community at a difficult time.
For employers looking to better support their employees:
- Take a look at our workplace hub, and find out how you can support your employees by taking on training, creating a pregnancy loss policy, and signing our Pregnancy Loss Pledge.
- Get in touch to formally back our campaign, by emailing comms@miscarriageassociation.org.uk.
- Lobby your HR department to ensure pre-24 week loss is included in your own bereavement leave policy.
- Encourage other organisations to implement meaningful support for those affected by pregnancy loss.
Thank you to everyone who has already backed our Leave for Every Loss Campaign
If you want to show your support and back our campaign, email comms@miscarriageassociation.org.uk