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Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Equality at work: miscarriage and bereavement leave

Status: Closed Opened: 29 Oct 2024 Closed: 3 Sep 2025 2 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

The Committee will hear evidence from charities, researchers, HR professionals, employers and trade unions about workplace support for women and their partners who experience miscarriage and pregnancy loss. This will include examining the case for extending eligibility for parental bereavement leave.

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Equality at work: Miscarriage and bereavement … HC 335 15 Jan 2025 4 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
46 Conclusion 2nd Report - Equality at work: Miscarri… Not Addressed

Sick leave inadequate for miscarriage support, lacking confidentiality, dignity, and sufficient pay

conclusion Sick leave is an inappropriate and inadequate form of employer support in the aftermath of a miscarriage or pregnancy loss. It does not afford women adequate confidentiality or dignity and puts them at high risk of employment discrimination. The low rate of Statutory Sick Pay means that many women …

Government response. The government response details existing entitlements for pregnancy loss after 24 weeks (stillbirths) and general emergency leave, but does not address the conclusion that sick leave is an inappropriate and inadequate form of support for pre-24 week pregnancy loss.
Government Equalities Office
47 Recommendation 2nd Report - Equality at work: Miscarri… Accepted

Promote benefits of generous pre-24-week pregnancy loss leave policies and strengthen awareness guidance

recommendation There has been good progress among employers in recent years in acknowledging miscarriage as a bereavement. An increasing number are establishing excellent pregnancy loss policies, including generous and flexible periods of paid leave for women and partners. The benefits, for employees and employers, of a generous and flexible approach …

Government response. The government accepted the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and looks forward to further discussions on a statutory entitlement as the Employment Rights Bill progresses. New guidance has also been issued to support NHS employers in providing advice …
Government Equalities Office
48 Conclusion 2nd Report - Equality at work: Miscarri… Rejected

Substantial gaps in employer pregnancy loss provision necessitate a minimum legal standard for paid leave

conclusion While there have been incremental improvements in recent years, substantial gaps in employer-led provision remain. The case for a minimum standard in law is overwhelming. A period of paid bereavement leave should be available to all women and partners who experience a pre-24-week pregnancy loss. 17

Government response. The government acknowledges the insensitivity of classifying miscarriage bereavement as sick leave but argues that Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and existing ACAS guidance are available and appropriate, effectively declining to commit to a new minimum legal standard for paid bereavement …
Government Equalities Office
49 Recommendation 2nd Report - Equality at work: Miscarri… Acknowledged

Extend statutory parental bereavement leave and pay to employees experiencing pre-24-week pregnancy losses

recommendation We intend to table amendments to the Employment Rights Bill in the name of our Chair for consideration at Report stage. The amendments are set out in annex B of this report. They seek to extend the same entitlements to statutory parental bereavement leave and pay as are currently …

Government response. The government fully accepts the principle of bereavement leave and commits to working with stakeholders such as CIPD, ACAS, and TUC to explore further actions, but does not explicitly commit to supporting the proposed amendments or bringing forward its own …
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
27 Nov 2024 Dr Jessica Farren · University College London Hospitals, Munira Oza · Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, Nicole Basra · Dentsu International, Rachel Suff · Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Rhea Wolfson · GMB Union, Thomas Simons · NHS England, Vicki Robinson · The Miscarriage Association View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
8 Jan 2025 — Correspondence from the Chief HR and OD Officer and Deputy National People Dire…