Equality at work: miscarriage and bereavement leave

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 … Read more 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 are clear and far outweigh the minimal costs of establishing such schemes. However, we are concerned that such schemes are not always sufficiently well promoted. The Government should work with organisations including the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) and the Trades Union Congress, to promote the benefits of generous and flexible pre- 24-week pregnancy loss leave policies and strengthen guidance to ensure that, where such policies are in place, managers, employees, and prospective employees are aware of them. Show less