Workplace hub
An estimated one in four pregnancies ends in loss. With this devastating experience being so common, most workplaces have staff who have been or may be affected – whether they’ve disclosed it or not.
But many employees don’t know their rights and employers rarely have policies in place to help. Managers are not always clear on their responsibilities and colleagues may not know what to say – we are here to support your workplace in providing best practice support.
We start by listening – to you, your teams, and your employees – so our guidance reflects real experiences and real challenges. Our resources are practical, inclusive, and designed to work in all kinds of workplaces. We combine empathy, experience and evidence to help you approach sensitive situations with confidence. And we bring people together to ensure support for those affected by miscarriage isn’t left to chance, but becomes a natural part of how you look after your people.
On this page:
Pregnancy Loss Pledge
Our Pregnancy Loss Pledge urges employers across the UK to implement meaningful support for staff affected by the distress of pregnancy loss.
You’ll be committing to six pregnancy loss standards, ensuring that employees going through this difficult time get the support and time off they need, when they need it most.
When you sign up, you’ll receive a Pregnancy Loss Pledge badge to display, our standards, a Pregnancy Loss Policy template, and Baby Loss Awareness resources each October. Access to the Pledge is £99 per year.
“Signing the Pledge means NHS Scotland colleagues can be assured that we will do everything we can to support them and their families at this difficult time. This reflects the NHS Scotland values and our continued work in partnership to champion good practice through our workforce policies.”
Fiona Hogg, Chief People Officer at NHS Scotland
Training and consultancy
There is still a taboo around miscarriage, especially in the workplace – our training and consultancy offerings help you feel prepared, and nurture an environment where employees feel safe to disclose their loss.
With our support, your organisation can implement lasting support for those affected by miscarriage with confidence.
Supporting someone at work
We know that nurturing a supportive workplace and navigating conversations around pregnancy loss can feel overwhelming.
If your an employer or manager, we’ve provided the information you need – including supporting employees before during and after a loss, their rights, your responsibilities, and talking about pregnancy loss at work in an inclusive and compassionate way.
“You don’t need to have all of the answers and I don’t think that’s what people would expect. I think it’s about knowing what questions to ask – asking them what they feel would help them at this time, rather than presume.”
We also know that supporting someone as a colleague can feel difficult, and you may not know where to start. We’ve included some guidance on how you can reach out to them in a way that suits your relationship, as well as how you can support them once they return to work.
Your rights and support at work
If you have been affected by pregnancy loss, you may be looking for more information on how to navigate your relationship with your workplace during this difficult time.
We’ve put together some information and guidance around your rights as an employee, adjustments you can request and returning to work.
Creating a supportive workplace
For Human Resources, it’s vital to understand the impact pregnancy loss can have on staff, so you can direct them to the support that works for them. This will include your policies, and any internal support such as an Employee Assistance Program.
It is also helpful for you to know how their direct managers can be of support, in case they come to you for advice.
“When I spoke to Miscarriage UK, they gave me the guidance and the tools I needed to use the right language, tone and approach to feel confident to speak about it and develop an inclusive policy.”
Krystle Williams, HR Manager at Global Witness