Committees

WEC to hear evidence on the need for statutory miscarriage bereavement leave

27 November 2024

Chair comment

Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) Chair Sarah Owen MP said: “I was not prepared for the grief of miscarrying. It happened at work during my first pregnancy. I was even more shocked to find I was not entitled to bereavement leave but legally had to take sick leave.

“I was not sick, but grief stricken, harbouring a deep sense of loss. This happens to approximately one in four pregnancies and yet legislation has not caught up with this stark reality. The law urgently needs to change to give everyone who is the one in four the time to heal. 

“Many private sector employers, and now the NHS—the largest public sector employer of women—have led the way in offering paid bereavement leave for those who miscarry, but all workers could and should benefit from the right to bereavement leave following baby loss.”

The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) will examine the workplace impacts of miscarriage and early pregnancy losses such as ectopic and molar pregnancies during an evidence session in Parliament on Wednesday, 27 November.

MPs on the cross-party committee will hear the case for extending eligibility for statutory parental bereavement leave, which is currently available in relation to stillbirths after 24 weeks, but not for earlier pregnancy and baby losses.

During the first panel, WEC will take evidence from two miscarriage and baby loss charities as well as an NHS consultant/miscarriage trauma expert. MPs will also hear from HR professionals, including in the NHS and the private sector, and the GMB union in the second panel.

The one-off evidence session forms part of WEC’s umbrella inquiry into Equality at work.

Witnesses

Wednesday, 27 November

Panel 1

(at 2.20pm)

  • Dr Jessica Farren, Consultant Gynaecologist, University College London Hospital
  • Munira Oza, Chief Executive, Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
  • Vicki Robinson, Chief Executive, The Miscarriage Association

Panel 2

(at approximately 3.15pm) 

  • Rachel Suff, Senior Policy Adviser, Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development
  • Nicole Basra, EDI Director UK&I, Dentsu International
  • Rachel Harrison, National Secretary, GMB Union
  • Thomas Simons, Chief Human Resources and Operational Development Officer, NHS England

Further information  

Image: House of Commons