In a significant shift in workers’ rights, parents in the UK will now be entitled to bereavement leave following a miscarriage, marking a key development in the government’s Labour-led reforms.
This move offers crucial support to parents during one of the most difficult experiences, ensuring they have the time they need to grieve without the pressure of returning to work.
This reform follows years of campaigning by politicians and advocacy groups who have highlighted the emotional and physical toll of pregnancy loss. The new policy offers a legal right to at least one week of leave for mothers and partners who suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks of gestation, a change which has been widely welcomed by experts in the field.
Support for Parents Amid Loss
The extended leave comes as part of a broader initiative to provide more comprehensive support to parents experiencing pregnancy loss.
Under current law, parents can take up to two weeks off work if they suffer a miscarriage after 24 weeks or if a child under 18 dies. However, there was previously no provision for those who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks. This gap left many parents feeling unsupported at a time of profound grief.
The new law ensures that parents who suffer this devastating loss will have legal access to at least one week of leave.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner spoke out about the importance of this change, emphasizing that no one should feel compelled to return to work before they are ready. According to Rayner, this reform will help “people take the time away from work to grieve“.
The Miscarriage Association has also expressed strong support for the policy. Chief Executive Vicki Robinson described the reform as a “hugely important step,” acknowledging the profound emotional impact of pregnancy loss, which affects not only the mothers but also their partners. This reform is a critical recognition of the trauma many parents face after such a loss.
Campaigners Celebrate Victory
For many, this change represents a long-awaited victory in the fight for more compassionate policies around miscarriage.
Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has been at the forefront of campaigning for this reform. Her personal experience of miscarriage informed her belief that grieving parents needed more support.
In 2021, Owen shared her emotional struggle after a miscarriage, noting that although she physically recovered in a matter of days, the emotional weight lingered for much longer.
This announcement is part of broader efforts by the Labour Party to improve workers’ rights and ensure greater protections for parents and families in the UK. As such, it represents a step forward in creating a more supportive and empathetic work environment, especially for those dealing with pregnancy loss.
