Mon, 07 Jul 2025

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks

Parents who experience pregnancy loss at any stage will be entitled to leave from work under planned changes.

* The UK government plans to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the right to take bereavement leave if they experience pregnancy loss at any stage.
* Currently, bereavement leave is only available to parents who lose an unborn child after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
* Under the proposed change, parents will be entitled to at least one week's unpaid leave to grieve.
* The new law would apply in England, Scotland, and Wales, but not Northern Ireland.
* Labour MP Sarah Owen called the move a "huge step forward" and said that women currently have "absolutely nothing" after experiencing pregnancy loss.
* Musician Myleene Klass said that people should no longer be limited to taking sick leave for pregnancy loss, as it's a taboo subject.
* The government estimates that around 250,000 pregnancies end in miscarriage every year.
* Supporters of the change say it will help break the stigma around speaking about miscarriage and allow parents to process their grief without penalty or punishment.
* However, some small business owners expressed concerns about how the change would impact their businesses.
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