MP welcomes government plans for bereavement leave to be rolled out to parents who experience pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Ministers are planning to amend the government’s landmark Employment Rights Bill and give protected bereavement leave to individuals affected by pregnancy loss at any stage. Currently, rules grant up to two weeks of bereavement leave for the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. The proposed changes would ensure the right to bereavement leave expanded to those who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks.
Emily Darlington, MP for Milton Keynes Central, welcomed the proposed amendments: “As someone who’s experienced the trauma of pregnancy loss, I’m deeply relieved that we’re finally recognising miscarriage for what it is - a bereavement.
Being limited to taking sick leave after experiencing such a loss has added to the stigma of having a miscarriage - I’m hopeful that women of the future will be able to stand up and say “I’m not ‘ill’, I’m grieving”, and take the time they need before going back to work.”
This comes after ministers announced they will review the system of parental leave, declaring that the current system is “not working” for families.
