An influential group of MPs in the UK is advocating for two weeks of paid bereavement leave for women who experience a miscarriage.

This proposal aims to extend paid leave to couples who suffer a miscarriage before 24 weeks, aligning it with existing provisions for losses occurring after that time.

To implement this change, MPs plan to propose amendments to the Employment Rights Bill.

Sarah Owen, the Labour MP who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, shared her personal experience of miscarrying at work, highlighting the inadequacy of sick leave for such situations.

Vicki Robinson from the Miscarriage Association criticized the current policy, stating it creates a 'cliff edge' in support for grieving parents and emphasized the need for grief recognition in employment law.

Clea Harmer from Sands pointed out the unfairness of relying on employer goodwill for bereavement leave, advocating for guaranteed paid leave.

The Women and Equalities Committee reported that existing sick leave policies are insufficient for couples dealing with pregnancy loss.

The Department for Business and Trade has indicated that the Employment Rights Bill will introduce new rights to bereavement leave and additional protections for parents.

Currently, around 250,000 miscarriages occur annually in the UK before 24 weeks, with over one in five pregnancies ending in miscarriage.

Since April 2020, statutory parental bereavement leave has been available after stillbirths post-24 weeks, but there is no similar provision for earlier miscarriages.

The proposed changes aim to align the rights of women who miscarry with those who have a stillbirth, which is already protected under existing legislation.

Polling data shows that 89% of people view the loss of a baby at any stage of pregnancy as a bereavement, reinforcing the need for formal recognition of such losses.