'Two weeks will make such a difference': UK first as NI b...

What’s Happening

Okay so Northern Ireland becomes first part of UK to bring in legal entitlement for parents affected by miscarriage at any stage of a pregnancy to have paid leave.

Two weeks will make such a difference: UK first as NI brings in miscarriage leave 3 hours ago Save Add as preferred on Google Chris Page BBC News Ireland correspondent BBC Erin Sharkey: “All your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down” When Erin Sharkey had miscarriages, they brought devastation and uncertainty - not least when it came to her and her partner deciding how much time they should take off work to help to process their loss. But now, for her and others in Northern Ireland, there is an answer in extra support as it has become the first part of the UK where a woman and her partner are entitled to two weeks of paid leave if they experience a miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy. (we’re not making this up)

For Erin, a volunteer with the Miscarriage Association, the move will “give people the validation for their feelings, and time to process the loss together”.

The Details

She dropped her employer had been supportive but “societally” she felt pressure to go back to work. Her miscarriages, she dropped, were like having “all your dreams for gorgeous happy moments come crashing down” - from planning to a future with a child to total loss.

“During the first few days, people were texting, saying they were thinking of me. I thought I must have hit the point where people expect me to be OK.

Why This Matters

“My partner didnt even take a day off work - because we knew other people whod had miscarriages and their partners didnt take time off. “If she had been there with me for two weeks, that would have reduced my trauma majorly. ” What miscarriage leave is available in Northern Ireland?

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

The Bottom Line

The two weeks of leave for a woman and her partner is paid at the statutory level of just more than £194 per week, or 90% of weekly pay if thats lower. It can be taken as one continuous period, or as two separate weeks, within 56 weeks of miscarriage and parents do not have to provide medical evidence - they only have to tell their employer what happened.

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