The Importance Of Pregnancy Loss Policies - Why Businesses Should Adopt It

Having a miscarriage can be devastating. And with so many high-profile figures speaking out about their experiences of miscarriage, more people are talking about the reality of losing a baby.

However, more often than not, pregnancy loss is still a subject that falls under the radar, especially when it comes to workplace policies.

But with more people talking about it and the release of enlightening documentaries like, Myleene Klass: Miscarriage & Me, there’s no better time to address the importance of pregnancy loss policies in the workplace.

Current pregnancy loss policies

Although celebrities such as Myleene Klass, Katherine Ryan and Stephanie Davis have worked hard to break the stigma around miscarriage and speaking out about it, in places like the UK, pregnancy loss policies have a long way to come.

New Zealand passed a monumental law entitling parents to take three days bereavement leave if they go through a miscarriage or a stillbirth (no matter what stage the pregnancy was at). In the UK, however, there is no entitlement to any paid leave when the loss occurs before 24 weeks. 

Technically, UK law doesn’t recognize anything before 24 weeks as “childbirth.” Therefore, employees don’t have any legal right to time off work, even if the time is to be taken for bereavement. After 24 weeks of pregnancy, however, the rules change a little in the UK. 

Since April 2020, UK parents have had the legal right to take time off work for “statutory parental bereavement.” This applies if parents have suffered the death of a child, including a miscarriage or a stillbirth after 24 weeks. However, the question still begs asking: does this law go far enough? 

The emotional and physical trauma that can accompany a miscarriage should not be underestimated. It’s simply not as easy as getting up and going to work the day after such a heartbreaking ordeal. Some companies have recognized this and implemented big changes. 

Channel 4 and Monzo, for example,  are among the first few brands to have implemented policies specific to miscarriages. These companies now offer both parents up to two weeks of paid leave after a pregnancy loss.

Why it's important for companies to have pregnancy loss policies

Most companies know how important health and wellbeing is to their employees. To maintain a strong and happy workforce, compassion and understanding are key.

Loss of a baby during pregnancy remains a sad reality for many families. With so many people having to endure the pain of pregnancy loss, a compassionate approach from companies is the only way forward.

In the US, about 24,000 babies are stillborn each year, and about 1 pregnancy in 100 at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later is affected by stillbirth, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Meanwhile, 250,000 miscarriages happen in the UK every year, with around 11,000 emergency ectopic pregnancy admissions each year, according to research by Imperial College London.

Research by Imperial College London revealed the consequences that these tragedies often have on women’s mental health. It found that almost a third of women who experienced either a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy later suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety and moderate-to-severe depression were also frequently reported amongst those who had been through a miscarriage. Another study carried out by Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research revealed that approximately one in four women would go through at least one miscarriage in their lives.

Evidently, miscarriages are more common than many people might think. The taboo around the topic of pregnancy loss has meant that this subject has too often been ignored.

However, with more awareness, we should also see better policies in place for women who have had to go through such a difficult experience.

What can be done?

Although there are often no laws in place about workplace leave after pregnancy loss in places like the UK, there are plenty of ways in which companies can take matters into their own hands.

Like Monzo and Channel 4, it’s recommended for companies to introduce their own formal policies. This way, people who have had to go through the pain of pregnancy loss will feel financially and emotionally supported by their workplace.

That’s not the only thing that companies can implement either. There are several other ways to make sure employees feel supported and heard, such as:

• Raising awareness about pregnancy loss and tackling the taboo.
• Making sure your staff have access to useful information sources about pregnancy loss.
• Offering compassionate leave and mental health days.
• Training managers and other members of staff about how to support people who have been through pregnancy loss.
• Offering flexible working options for those who have been through pregnancy loss.

We’re certainly heading in the right direction when it comes to pregnancy loss policies and greater awareness, with public figures tackling taboos about subjects from miscarriage to postpartum depression and postpartum bleeding. However, there is still much to be done.

Following this year’s Baby Loss Awareness Week, don’t shy away from the subject. Reach out to your loved ones who might be suffering and help to implement new policies in your workplace.