Co-op doubles paid leave for pregnancy loss in UK retail first
Co-op has strengthened its pregnancy loss policy, doubling paid leave from five to ten days for colleagues affected by miscarriage, stillbirth or pregnancy loss, including partners and intended parents via surrogacy.
Co-op said the change, which applies from day one of employment, aims to position the convenience retailer as one of the UK’s most progressive employers on bereavement rights.
The news follows a Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons this week, co-hosted with the Miscarriage Association and Sarah Owen MP, supporting statutory bereavement leave through the upcoming Employment Rights Bill.
Originally launched in 2021, Co-op’s policy recognises pregnancy loss as a bereavement, rather than an illness and offers paid medical leave, access to counselling, and guidance for managers to handle conversations sensitively.
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“Losing a baby at any stage is devastating, and no one should have to navigate that heartbreak without support,” said Co-op Group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq.
“By doubling paid leave, we’re giving colleagues the time and space they need, without added financial or work pressures. This is about compassion, fairness and breaking the silence around pregnancy loss.”
Miscarriage Association chief executive Vicki Robinson said the move “sets an important example for other employers to follow,” while Women and Equalities Committee chair and MP Sarah Owen praised the retailer’s “leadership and compassion” in treating pregnancy loss as bereavement.
The update builds on Co-op’s wider commitments to supporting bereaved parents, including the grocery retailer’s current policy for four weeks of fully paid leave for colleagues who lose a child under 18, and its advocacy for the Children’s Funeral Fund, introduced in 2019.
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The minds usually said, yea..losing an unborn is disheartening and frustrated, say not out of raped , but as the surrounded friends, acquaintances etc face such, and they didnt collapse , thus the surroundings do matter, one to face such too might become stronger emotionally. Nevertheless, at times i did wonder, why even try despite the opportunity of mishaps ? Meaning ever aborted and miscarriaged. And with every pregnancy, bounds to have risks of unwellness like even death , more complications due to another miscarriage etc. When i was pregnant, though an abortion happened due to ” curse “, full prevention done actually, but it was after 11 yrs i tred and went through medical check ups to ensure my body is healthy and self to watch own etc, to ensure the unborn is fine , family no history of anything. But mishaps can still happen since nothing is guaranteed and to be honest, i did have the biggest regret of even getting pregnant, think of the impossibilites to help the emotions part as beside dealing w a loss, has to deal with existing duties to other own children again, how can women not be stronger huh. Getting oregnant is the biggest risk one has to face , agree? Too many risks if one wants to foresee the risks of the indirect types , too direct..too many risks. Even abortion and miscarriage will have high risk on self, not jjst the afterrmaths of having the baby borned unhealthy. When the surroundings not suitable, why even ” gamble ” with own , too unhorn? A parent who genuinely love own chi,drem will think deeper of the impossibilities, but serikusly… the unthinkable impossibility can happen too.