Thread by @SYSCAbout

NZ approves paid leave after miscarriage, and are among the first in the world to do so.

Content warning: this thread discusses miscarriages and stillbirths. If you don’t have the capacity to read on, please don’t. We love you xx

New Zealand’s Parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation that would give couples who suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth three days of paid leave.

NZ employers are already required to provide paid leave in the event of a stillbirth, when a fetus is lost after 20 weeks or more.

The new legislation will expand that leave to anyone who loses a pregnancy at ANY POINT, removing any ambiguity.

The measure is expected to become law in the coming weeks and appears to be the first of its kind of legislation.

“I felt that it would give women the confidence to be able to request that leave if it was required, as opposed to just being stoic and getting on with life, when they knew that they needed time, physically or psychologically, to get over the grief,” - Ginny Anderson

Does this happen in other countries?

In Australia, people who miscarry are entitled to unpaid leave if it’s after 12 weeks, in Britain, would-be parents who experience a stillbirth after 24 weeks get paid leave.

The US doesn’t require employers to provide leave for anyone who suffers a miscarriage.

This is three days of automatic paid leave - without having to apply for it through your employer.

They can also take up to 52 weeks paid parental leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth, but that’s up to the employer.

By the way! This legislation applies to both parents, and to those couples who are planning to have children through adoption or through a surrogate.

This is what can happen when you lead with kindness. Miscarriage and stillbirth bring such intense loss and require time to heal and grieve.

Sending love to anyone touched by this new legislation, and to anyone who may have needed it before it existed. ♥️