TUC 2024 supports miscarriage leave as a day-one right

Addressing Congress delegates in Brighton, Jane Jones, Usdaw President said: “While every experience of baby loss is different, feelings of shock, sadness and grief are common. It is estimated that one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage, but despite this, there is still enormous stigma and shame around baby loss.

 “People are often discouraged from talking about their experience and loss, which can lead to isolation and disconnection, even from partners and close family. So, for many, the idea of discussing their loss with managers and colleagues at work is unimaginable. This needs to change.

 “The absence of workplace rights for those who lose a baby during pregnancy leaves many thousands of women and their partners, where they have one, without the support they need to recover physically, emotionally and psychologically. While we know that unions have made real progress securing contractual rights for members - for instance, over a third of Usdaw members are covered by agreements that offer paid miscarriage leave - this gap in statutory rights should be closed.

 “Successive governments over many years have encouraged employers to sign pregnancy loss pledges and create supportive workplace environments, but they have all stopped short of introducing statutory rights. It's been argued that women who miscarry can take sick leave. This is not the answer and that’s clear from the fact that over half of women who miscarry return to work before they are ready. Many women do not qualify for sick pay, and even more fear negative consequences at work for taking periods of sick leave - even dismissal - regardless of what the law says.

 “Pledges and warm words are simply not good enough. We need a day-one right to a period of pay and leave, for women to take time away from work when this happens, regardless of their type of contract, their job role or their length of service.”