Irish Hospice Foundation Welcomes Approval of Leave for Pregnancy Loss Bill
Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) welcomes the news that the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD has approved a proposal to draft a Leave for Pregnancy Loss Bill.
IHF congratulates all of those involved in creating such a strong case for this leave and the continuous advocacy efforts of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group (PLRG), University College Cork, led by Marita Hennessy, Keelin O’Donoghue, and Senator Nicole Ryan.
IHF is heartened to see that pregnancy loss prior to 23 weeks’ gestation will be acknowledged for its significance and supported by the state, giving recognition to the impact that it can have on those affected in their workplace.
“This is a significant and welcome step for people in Ireland who experience pregnancy loss and acknowledges the profound impact this can have on employees, while sending a clear message to employers that this loss matters. State recognition of pregnancy loss prior to 23 weeks’ gestation provides those affected with time and space to focus on recovery and cope with their loss. While time off helps, it does not solve everything, and we recommend that employers consider pregnancy loss in their wider practices and policies”.
— said Amy Gibney, National Grief in the Workplace Manager at Irish Hospice Foundation.
Gibney added that the return to work presents challenges for anyone who experiences pregnancy loss, so having a clear plan of reasonable accommodations is important for employers to consider.
IHF recommends that employers refer to the evidence-based Toolkit developed by the PLRG, which will provide them with information about supportive and enabling responses for their employees who are affected.
Previously, IHF has supported the important work of the PLRG through our collaboration in the development of their website, which aims to enhance the translation of pregnancy loss research into policy and practice. Funding through our seeds project from our Arts and Creative Programme in IHF also enabled the production of the “Why my baby died” booklet, which is a graphic visual narrative or ‘comic’ book that tells the story of baby loss in the words of bereaved ones.
Another significant contribution from the PLRG is the “Words at Work” booklet that captures the lived experience voices of the harsh reality of navigating pregnancy loss while working.
