What:
Co-op has announced the launch of its dedicated pregnancy loss policy, to support colleagues through the bereavement and grief of a pregnancy loss with tailored practical and psychological support.
Why:
More than one in five pregnancies end in miscarriage – around a quarter of a million in the UK each year. This policy, part of Co-op’s drive to create a truly inclusive workplace and deliver a fairer world for colleagues, supports both parents who have been affected.
How:
Created in partnership with the Miscarriage Association, the policy includes a range of flexible support, including:
- Flexible paid leave, tailored to provide support for individual circumstances
- A range of resources from charities and support groups to help colleagues and their families
- Paid leave for the partners of those who experience pregnancy loss and intended parents (surrogacy)
- Time off for medical appointments, access to support and counseling for bereavement and grief through Lifeworks (a wellbeing app for Co-op colleagues), and also signposting to other organizations at the end of the policy to support specific types of pregnancy loss
- Access to emergency leave if a family member suffers pregnancy loss
- Access to GP support for colleagues and their families 24 hours a day through Co-op’s Smart Health virtual service, providing psychologist-led mental health support, complex case support, second medical opinions, and proactive health guidance
- Guide for managers to help provide practical and emotional support to those going through loss