Waveney woman who's suffered two miscarriages says greater workplace support needed
NASUWT wants miscarriage to be included within statutory maternity, paternity and parental bereavements rights
Last updated 17th Sep 2024
A woman from Waveney who's suffered two miscarriages is telling us that employers need help from specialists so they can properly support their workers who go through this.
It comes after a teachers' union called for those who experience a miscarriage to have the legal right for paid time off from work - to reduce the emotional and financial stress they experience.
The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) wants miscarriage to be included within statutory maternity, paternity and parental bereavements rights.
"One of the of the worst things that a woman and family can ever go through"
Justine Maher is the founder of local pregnancy and baby loss support group 'Angels and Rainbows':
"It seems to me that the door is opening a little bit wider now and that people are starting to talk a little more freely about baby and pregnancy loss, with it being less of a taboo issue.
"It's one of the of the worst things that a woman and family can ever go through and that side of it isn't really spoken about enough.
"It's not just that you're mourning the death of your child and it's future, it's also the fact that you're trying to get back to normal as soon as possible. When in reality, you don't go back to normality for a very long-time."
She told us more about why this is needed:
"I personally didn't have great support. I worked for a very small company, and I understand that they have costs to cover, but I felt very pressured into going back to work because they needed me, all while I experiencing a bereavement."
"Should not have their grief compounded by having to go cap in hand to their employer"
Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary, said:
"Miscarriage comes with huge emotional, and often physical, implications. Estimates vary, but around one in five pregnancies in the UK is thought to end in miscarriage, meaning tens of thousands of workers are affected each year.
"Workers experiencing the trauma of miscarriage have to rely on the goodwill of their employer if they need time off after experiencing a miscarriage.
"The previous government failed to act and we are now asking the new government to introduce legislation to extend rights to all workers experiencing miscarriage.
"Workers experiencing miscarriage should not have their grief compounded by having to go cap in hand to their employer or worrying about whether they can afford time off.
"In a compassionate society, paid miscarriage leave should be a statutory right for all workers in all sectors."