Why Pura supports bereavement leave for couples who experience a miscarriage

At Pura, we strongly believe that all parents who experience pregnancy loss deserve proper time to grieve. That’s why we stand firmly behind the growing calls for expanded bereavement leave for couples who experience a miscarriage.

At present, employees in the UK are eligible for parental bereavement leave if they or their partner experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, there remains a gap when it comes to miscarriages that occur before the 24-week mark.

This gap has not gone unnoticed. Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has been a vocal advocate for extending the right to bereavement leave to include those who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks.

In fact, Owen and her committee have proposed changes to the Employment Rights Bill that would ensure parents who lose a pregnancy before the 24-week threshold are entitled to two weeks of leave to grieve.

 Why Pura goes further than the Government proposal

At Pura, we believe that bereavement leave should be more than just a statutory minimum. We feel it’s essential that parents affected by pregnancy loss—no matter the stage of pregnancy—are given adequate time to process their grief.

That’s why our Miscarriage, Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Policy goes above and beyond. If an employee’s baby is stillborn before the end of the 24th week of pregnancy, which we treat as a miscarriage, we offer three weeks of full normal salary. This policy ensures that our employees can take the time they need to mourn during an already incredibly difficult time.

 A step toward change

The debate surrounding the Employment Rights Bill is ongoing, but there have been positive signs that change is on the horizon. During a debate on the bill, Minister Chris Madders expressed support for the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss. He also pledged to continue discussions with Sarah Owen and peers as the Bill progresses to the House of Lords.

Sarah Owen, in turn, expressed her satisfaction with the government's commitment. “I’m so pleased to hear the minister’s commitment. Introducing a legal right to miscarriage bereavement leave would be a leading light in a world which seems to be taking a backward step in women’s rights,” she said.

While the government’s current proposal for bereavement leave after a miscarriage is for unpaid leave, it’s worth noting that Vicki Robinson, CEO of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the progress. “We are extremely pleased to see, for the first time ever, those experiencing pre-24-week pregnancy loss will be officially recognised in bereavement leave legislation,” she said. “This represents a significant step forward and provides long-overdue validation that this type of loss can be experienced as a bereavement like any other.”

Looking to the future

At Pura, we believe that grieving is an essential part of healing, and that time should be afforded to those who are experiencing this type of profound loss. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death are all devastating experiences that deserve recognition and support. We are proud to lead by example and to advocate for policies that give parents the time they need to heal.

As the discussion surrounding bereavement leave for pregnancy loss continues to unfold, we hope to see further steps taken to ensure that all parents—regardless of the stage of their pregnancy—are given the time, support, and dignity they deserve.