Latest news with #bereavementLeave
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Leominster campaigner says miscarriage leave change is 'amazing'
A woman who campaigned for changes to bereavement leave after having three miscarriages said it was "amazing" that a planned law would cover more government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill, which is making its way through Parliament, to give parents a legal right to time off work if they experience pregnancy loss at any leave is currently only available to parents who lose an unborn child after 24 weeks of pregnancy."For anybody in the future who does have to go through [a miscarriage], all that stress and that campaigning has been worth it," said Tash Allin, from Leominster, who was nine weeks pregnant when she had her third miscarriage. "It's crucial - to be able to get over such an upsetting life experience, you need that time," she told BBC Radio Hereford & added that she was one of many women and men who had campaigned on the issue and it felt "amazing" to have helped bring about change. 'Bottled up emotions' The proposed extended right to leave would be unpaid and last for at least one week, though the exact length is still being consulted details, including who will be eligible and whether a doctor's note would be required, will also be decided following a Allin said she had a supportive employer when she had her most recent miscarriage, but she had harder experiences during some of her pregnancy losses."It was very much, 'I'm so sorry to hear it, but when are you coming back?' That was how the conversation went," she said."When your boss is saying that, you do feel pressure to go back and therefore you just kind of have to bottle up your emotions."Ms Allin, who has two children, added that she hoped the final bill would contain a right to leave that lasted more than one week. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Parents given ‘time to heal' under plans to expand leave for pregnancy loss
The UK government plans to amend the Employment Rights Bill to provide bereavement leave for parents experiencing pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. This change will ensure protected time off, addressing current rules that only grant leave for stillbirths after 24 weeks or the death of a child under 18. The amendments will introduce a right to at least one week's leave for pre-24-week losses, with the precise duration to be determined following a consultation. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds supported the move, highlighting the need for dignity and families receiving the 'time they need to heal' without job concerns. The Miscarriage Association welcomed the announcement as a crucial step acknowledging the significant impact of early pregnancy loss on individuals and their partners.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
People to be entitled to time off work if they lose baby before 24 weeks
People will be entitled to bereavement leave if they lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks, under new plans to be unveiled by the Government. Ministers are set to amend the Employment Rights Bill so that people will be entitled to protected time off in the event of a pregnancy loss, regardless of the stage at which it happens. Angela Rayner has said that the change will give 'people time away from work to grieve'. Under current rules, parents are entitled to up to two weeks of bereavement leave if a child dies before they turn 18, or they experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Amendments to the Employment Rights Bill, will see the right to 'at least one week's leave' expanded to people who lose a pregnancy before 24 weeks. The exact length of the leave will be specified in later legislation after a consultation. The Bill already makes provision to expand bereavement leave, giving employees protected time off to grieve the loss of a loved one. READ MORE: One of two boys found dead on railway line pictured READ MORE: Highly infectious new Covid Stratus takes over UK with unique symptom Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has said that the amendments will offer 'dignity and respect'. 'For many families, including mine, that have been affected by pregnancy loss, the decision around returning to work or taking sick leave to grieve properly can make an already painful experience even more difficult,' he said. 'Grief doesn't follow a timetable, and expanding rights to leave for pregnancy loss will ensure every family gets the time they need to heal without worrying about their job.' Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner similarly said that 'no-one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready'. 'I am proud that this Government is introducing a day-one right to protected time off work after experiencing pregnancy loss, giving people time away from work to grieve and spend time with their families,' she said. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement, saying it was 'a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too'. It comes after ministers announced they would review the system of parental leave, declaring that the current system is 'not working' for families. Mr Reynolds said the Government will investigate the whole system for supporting new parents to take time off work when they have a baby, including maternity leave, paternity leave and shared arrangements.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks
Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy will be entitled to bereavement leave under a planned law change. The government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the legal right to take time off work to grieve if they experience pregnancy loss at any stage. As it stands, bereavement leave is only available to parents who lose an unborn child after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the change will give "people time away from work to grieve". "No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready," Rayner said. Parents are currently entitled to a fortnight's leave if they suffer pregnancy loss after 24 weeks, or if a child younger than 18 dies. The extended right to leave will be for "at least" one week, though the exact length is still being consulted on. The Employment Rights Bill, which includes further measures to protect in law the right of employees to have time off to grieve the loss of a loved one, is already making its way through Parliament. Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has previously campaigned for the change. In 2021, she told MPs that after her own miscarriage she felt physically better in a few days but had "all the classic signs" of grieving. "I could not eat, I could not sleep. I really did not hold much hope that life would ever get brighter," she said. In March, business minister Justin Madders told MPs he accepted the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and promised to look at adding the right to the Employment Rights Bill. Vicki Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the announcement. She said it was "a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too". Government backs miscarriage bereavement leave Paid leave for bereaved parents is 'crucial' 'I went back after 3 days': Calls for miscarriage bereavement leave
BBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Bereavement leave to be extended to miscarriages before 24 weeks
Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy will be entitled to bereavement leave under a planned law government is set to amend the Employment Rights Bill to give parents the legal right to take time off work to grieve if they experience pregnancy loss at any it stands, bereavement leave is only available to parents who lose an unborn child after 24 weeks of Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the change will give "people time away from work to grieve". "No one who is going through the heartbreak of pregnancy loss should have to go back to work before they are ready," Rayner are currently entitled to a fortnight's leave if they suffer pregnancy loss after 24 weeks, or if a child younger than 18 extended right to leave will be for "at least" one week, though the exact length is still being consulted Employment Rights Bill, which includes further measures to protect in law the right of employees to have time off to grieve the loss of a loved one, is already making its way through Parliament. Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has previously campaigned for the 2021, she told MPs that after her own miscarriage she felt physically better in a few days but had "all the classic signs" of grieving."I could not eat, I could not sleep. I really did not hold much hope that life would ever get brighter," she March, business minister Justin Madders told MPs he accepted the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and promised to look at adding the right to the Employment Rights Robinson, chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, welcomed the said it was "a hugely important step that acknowledges the often very significant impact of pre-24-week loss, not only for those experiencing the physical loss, but for their partners too".
