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Together, let’s normalise conversations around miscarriage.
Last year, the Australian Government introduced legislation to provide 2 days of bereavement leave for parents who experience a miscarriage - this historic change was a positive step forward.
Kin Fertility led a research project to better understand the impact of miscarriages. The findings revealed that physical recovery can take weeks. Emotional recovery can take longer.
#WeNeedMoreLeave aims to raise awareness and encourage businesses, big or small, to support at least 10 days of paid miscarriage leave.
#WeNeedMoreLeave
a movement by
Fertility
89
Companies
11,240
Employees Impacted
When businesses change, society benefits.
19
Industries
The movement
Thank you to the 70+ Aussie companies
who have now changed their leave policies
The Kin Directory celebrates businesses that offer at least 10 days of paid miscarriage leave - setting a new benchmark for Australia.
The research
Why do we need more leave?
Our research found that Australian women and doctors overwhelmingly agree that 2 days of bereavement leave just isn’t enough for most parents to recover physically and emotionally from a miscarriage.
The Whitepaper
To better understand the impact of miscarriages in Australia we interviewed women’s health GP, Dr Jana Combrinck and surveyed over 500 Australian women who have experienced a miscarriage.
Download Whitepaper
What you need to know:
Miscarriages are extremely common but rarely spoken about.
1 in 5
Likelihood that an Australian pregnancy will end in miscarriage - that’s 110,000 Australians impacted every year
46 %
Amount of working women surveyed that did not disclose their miscarriage to their employer
Medical experts agree that physical recovery alone from miscarriage may take weeks while emotional recovery can take far longer.
72%
Amount of women who were not emotionally ready when they returned to work
7
days
days
Minimum amount of time needed to recover from physical symptoms of miscarriage alone (bleeding, abdominal pain and blood clots)
*Represents the median of survey responses
It's time we normalised the conversation around miscarriages in the workplace and set better standards for support.
10
days
days
Amount of paid leave requested by women surveyed, assuming no impact on their financial situation or career
*Represents the median of survey responses
64%
Percentage of women that disclosed their miscarriage and needed to use sick leave to take time off work
resources
How to get involved
For Employers
Want to join the movement?
Need a legal template?
To find out more, read the Eucalyptus policy, or download a template below.
Need support speaking to your employees?
Learn more and get support with our free PDF resource.
Support Document
For Employees
Want to ask your employer to get involved?
We’ve drafted you an email.
Email Employer
Need support through a miscarriage?
Learn more and get support with our free PDF resource
Support Document
Real women, real stories
Pamela Pazmino, Corporate counsellor/AMHSW of Beyond Purpose Therapy
“It's fundamental to acknowledge that for some women who need medical termination or have had a miscarriage, their personal experience may consist of medical interventions, severe physical pain, be in a state of survival/uncertainty and/or have emotional and psychological difficulties lasting for several days, weeks or even months.”
Dr Jana Combrinck, Women’s Health GP
“Two days’ [bereavement leave] is simply inadequate. I don’t believe in one size fits all. The experience of a miscarriage is variable from woman to woman. In an ideal world she would be able to take as much leave as she felt was necessary.”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“[I] did not feel comfortable to ask employer [for additional leave], they would have said no”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I felt they [employer] would think I have had enough time off.”
Jen, experienced two miscarriages
“People need to talk more about miscarriage. I know so many people who’ve had miscarriages and they were all feeling really alone at the time. It just doesn’t need to be that way.”
Pamela Pazmino, Corporate counsellor/AMHSW of Beyond Purpose Therapy,
“Returning to work too early may have an impact on their self-confidence, work performance and social interactions which as a result can have longer-lasting effects to their mental well-being and at times requiring longer time off work later in the recovery stage.”
Dr Jana Combrinck, Women’s Health GP
“Physically, returning to work so soon poses a potential danger to the woman herself and, depending on her role, others too. Bleeding can be highly unpredictable and heavy bleeding can result in collapse. Pain can impact the women’s ability to focus on the task at hand.”
Jen, experienced two miscarriages
“I definitely felt that I should have taken more time off but I was very conscious that it was early and that maybe I shouldn’t dramatize it. I wasn’t keen to tell heaps of people either. I was very confused about it. In retrospect, I definitely should have taken time off because it definitely added up to quite a lot of anxiety later. ”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I was young and felt a little ostracized and like I shouldn't be feeling how I was or
didn't need to or shouldn't talk to anyone at the time. I shut down after trying to
talk with friends who didn't understand.
”
didn't need to or shouldn't talk to anyone at the time. I shut down after trying to
talk with friends who didn't understand.
”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I didn't get any time off work, I would not have got paid at all, I could not
afford to be off work so I miscarried whilst I worked in day care.”
afford to be off work so I miscarried whilst I worked in day care.”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“[Miscarriage] is the 'elephant' in the room; much like suicide. The stigma attached has people hesitant to speak about it or offer their condolences. Miscarriages, the loss of a baby, is very much an everyday occurrence; it needs to be normalised and ok to speak about.”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“Employer didnt support me enough, made me feel like I should be at work.”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I didn't feel like a miscarriage was a 'good' enough reason [for additonal leave]”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I used a combination of sick leave and unpaid leave, as I didn't feel quite
ready to come back to work with just my sick leave entitlements.”
ready to come back to work with just my sick leave entitlements.”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“My employer didn't offer bereavement leave and wouldn't allow me to use
my annual leave so I used all the sick leave I had and returned to work when
it ran out.
”
my annual leave so I used all the sick leave I had and returned to work when
it ran out.
”
Survey respondent who experienced a miscarriage
“I had no more leave saved up and I couldn't afford to be off work any longer
without pay.
”
without pay.
”
#WeNeedMoreLeave
a movement by
Fertility
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