Yahoo Finance Aussie company introduces paid leave for miscarriage
Zip Co (Zip) is one of Australia’s first-ever companies to offer paid bereavement leave for the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks.
The new bereavement leave policy gives both parents two weeks paid leave following a miscarriage.
Zip said it's important to normalise the conversation with one in four pregnancies ending in miscarriage.
The policy, which is available to all full- and part-time Zip employees globally, aims to recognise the unique circumstances that surround miscarriage as well and acknowledging the physical, emotional and mental toll.
For those that experience the loss of a pregnancy after 20 weeks, Zip’s parental leave policy gives 16 weeks paid leave for primary carers and four weeks paid leave for secondary carers.
Chief People Officer at Zip, Anna Buber-Farovich, said those experiencing pregnancy loss, and their partners, have so far lacked access to the support they need at a vulnerable time of their lives.
“Many are expected to hide tragedy within sick or compassionate leave. At Zip, we believe in supporting our teams through all hardships, irrespective of age, location or gender and that includes acknowledging and honouring pregnancy loss,” Buber-Farovich said.
“By validating their experience and providing the space to heal, we hope we can help our employees find their way to a full and healthy recovery – both mentally and physically.”
Zip CEO Larry Diamond added that policy is vital for everyone at the company and that it aims to help staff feel valued and supported.
“Hopefully, other Australian and international companies will follow Zip’s example and put in place similar steps to support their colleagues.”
CEO of The Pink Elephants Support Network, Sam Payne said it is pleasing to see a global company understanding the need for progressive policy change to support employees through the very real grief of losing a baby to pregnancy loss.
“If we are to address the cultural change that is necessary to better support women and their partners through the death of their baby, we need to first validate their experience as real grief. Bereavement policy does that," she said.
The move comes after New Zealand legislated parental bereavement leave earlier this year.
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