An influential group of UK Members of Parliament (MPs) has called for women who suffer a miscarriage to be granted two weeks of paid leave from work to allow them time to grieve the loss of their baby.
The proposal comes amid growing pressure on the government to create a new right of bereavement leave for women who lose a baby before 24 weeks of pregnancy, a situation that affects approximately 250,000 families each year.
The Women and Equalities Committee, which published the report today, argues that the emotional and physical toll of miscarriage is far-reaching, and women—along with their partners—should be entitled to dedicated time off work.
This change would offer those grieving a compassionate period to process the loss without the added burden of financial strain.
At present, some employers offer miscarriage leave as a discretionary benefit, but the committee advocates for it to become a universal right.
The recommendation seeks to ensure that the legislation keeps pace with the reality of miscarriage, which affects around one in five pregnancies, often occurring within the first 12 weeks.
While most miscarriages happen early, the proposed change would cover losses up to 24 weeks, with the same support currently given to parents who experience stillbirths.
Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the committee, highlighted her own experience of miscarriage, saying that the current system fails to recognize the grief women face.
“I was not prepared for the shock of miscarrying at work during my first pregnancy. Like many women, I legally had to take sick leave,” Owen explained.
“But I was grief-stricken, not sick. Miscarriage and pregnancy losses can be devastating for women and their families, with both emotional and physical consequences. Current legislation has not caught up with this stark reality.”
The proposal is modeled after existing parental bereavement leave provisions for stillbirths, which were introduced in 2020.
Parents who suffer a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy are entitled to statutory leave and pay, which amounts to £184.03 a week or 90% of their average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.
Owen aims to table amendments to the Employment Rights Bill to extend this entitlement to those who lose a baby before 24 weeks.
The Miscarriage Association, led by Chief Executive Vicki Robinson, also supports the call for change.
She stated, “Pregnancy loss at any gestation can be truly devastating, and for most who experience it, it represents the death of their baby, regardless of how early it happens.”
Robinson emphasized that women should not have to take sick leave after a miscarriage, as it reinforces harmful feelings of failure or self-blame. “Miscarriage is not simply an illness, and it’s time for the law to reflect this,” she added.
Charities such as Sands and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of paid leave for grieving parents.
Clea Harmer, CEO of Sands, pointed out that the reliance on employer goodwill for time off is unfair and inconsistent. “Giving staff paid time to recover after pregnancy loss is very important,” Harmer said.
The cross-party committee’s report calls for a comprehensive law that guarantees paid miscarriage leave for all employees, ensuring that no one faces workplace insecurity while mourning such a significant loss.
The committee urges the government to support these proposals or introduce their own provisions to address the issue.
Unions such as GMB also expressed their support, calling the move “desperately needed and long overdue.”
With broad backing from MPs, charities, and advocacy groups, the proposal is gaining traction as a vital step toward offering parents the space and support they need during a profoundly difficult time.
