New Zealand is to become one of the first countries in the world to offer paid bereavement leave to mothers and fathers who suffer a miscarriage. Miscarriage is quite common, occurring in up to 1 in 5 pregnancies, usually in the early stages.
The event can leave both mothers and fathers with emotional damage, and it is estimated that around 17% of those having a miscarriage experience depression afterwards, which can last as long as 3 years.
The New Zealand law will give couples experiencing miscarriage 3 days paid leave. At present, India is the only other country in the world to give leave to people experiencing miscarriage and gives women 6 weeks paid leave after the event.
New Zealand's parliament has just unanimously passed legislation giving mothers and their partners three days of bereavement leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth.https://t.co/ClWUxV8UFj
— GeeW BlueNote 🌊#BLM @LFC @AllBlacks 🇳🇿 (@WedsGee) March 24, 2021
In the United States, neither the government nor companies give this paid leave to employees. Only social-media company Reddit currently offers such leave as part of official company policy.
Janet Jaffe, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the Centre for Reproductive Psychology in San Diego, said:
"Because it is medically common, the impact of miscarriage is often underestimated. But miscarriage is a traumatic loss, not only of the pregnancy but of a woman's sense of self and her hopes and dreams of the future. She has lost her' reproductive story,' and it needs to be grieved."
Ginny Andersen, the New Zealand MP leading the bill through parliament, stated:
"The passing of this bill shows that once again New Zealand is leading the way for progressive and compassionate legislation, becoming only the second country in the world to provide leave for miscarriage and stillbirth. The bill will give women and their partners time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave. Because their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time."
Andersen had previously said:
"The lack of clarity has meant some women have been in the position of having to argue with their employer about whether they are entitled to leave because they have lost their unborn child. A lot of women have had more than one miscarriage and it can be very traumatic and difficult if you are trying to hold down a job."
Final reading of my Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage Bill. This is a Bill about workers’ rights and fairness. I hope it gives people time to grieve and promotes greater openness about miscarriage. We should not be fearful of our bodies. pic.twitter.com/dwUWINVjLm
— Ginny Andersen (@ginnyandersen) March 24, 2021
It is hoped that the change in law will motivate governments in other countries, as well as private companies, to put in place similar legislation that protects those who experience miscarriage.
[h/t: Upworthy]
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