Myleene Klass campaigns for paid bereavement leave to cover miscarriages
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Myleene Klass has questioned how you can place the loss of a child in the same bracket as someone having a cold as she campaigned for paid bereavement leave to be extended to those who experience a miscarriage. The former Hear’Say singer, 46, is a mum of three, daughters Ava and Hero and son Apollo. However, she has devastatingly suffered four miscarriages. She often speaks openly about the psychological effects of baby loss on women.
Now, MPs from the Women and Equalities Committee are calling for a law change to ensure paid bereavement leave is available to women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. They are saying sick leave is an “inappropriate and inadequate form of employer support” for this experience.
Since April 2020, employees have been eligible for statutory parental bereavement leave and pay if there is a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy. However, currently there is no specific leave for a pre-24 week loss in the form of miscarriage - something Myleene is determined to change.
On Wednesday, Myleene appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain. She said: “With bereavement leave, the parameters or the boundaries for both the employee and the employer are very clear. This is not the first time that this has been mooted, which is, I guess, frustrating, but again, at the same time, it shows the importance that people do feel we need this change.
“It’s integral to looking after both the women and the family’s mental health. How can you dismiss the loss of a child as in the same bracket or the same arena as someone having a common cold and just needing to go and see a GP. There has been a baby loss and that should be acknowledged.”.
