More than two-thirds of women who’ve experienced early pregnancy loss and fertility challenges report receiving no formal support upon returning to work. And 3 out of 4 workplaces are not equipped to meet their needs.
These alarming statistics come from the latest report into the issue by the Pink Elephants Support Network, Australia’s leading non-profit providing critical support for the 1 in 3 women in the country who’ve experienced early pregnancy loss.
The report, ‘The State of Early Pregnancy Loss and Fertility Support in the Workplace’, provides a comprehensive view of the key insights and learnings from the Pink Elephants Support Network 2023 Workplace Roundtable, and the steps employers can take to create their own workplace support programs.
“When we ignore the grief and fertility challenges experienced by women and their partners, we risk poor mental health outcomes, which can impact women’s workforce participation and overall productivity,” the report states.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists defines miscarriage as the loss of a baby prior to 20 weeks’ gestation. This definition, used in the report, includes all types of pregnancy loss including ectopic pregnancy and Termination for Medical Reasons.
For Co-founder and CEO of The Pink Elephants Support Network, Sam Payne, the experience of early pregnancy loss is a very personal one.
In 2015, her first miscarriage was met with intense and isolating grief. Then, as her second loss coincided with nightmares and anxiety attacks, Payne knew she needed support.
“I am one of the hundreds of women each day who grieve the loss of their loved babies in isolation due to society’s misperceptions of miscarriage,” she said.
“I created Pink Elephants so no one would need to ever suffer alone.”
Losing a baby affects women and their partners in many unseen ways, which is why we need to take the time to create inclusive policies that are clear and provide supportive return to work environments free of shame and stigma.”
Not only does this support women’s needs, but Payne says it also “makes business sense” as it increases women’s workforce participation.
In November 2023, The Pink Elephant’s Support Network invited 27 industry experts and medical professionals from 16 organisations to Sydney for their first ‘Fertility and Loss in the Workplace’ Roundtable event. The event sought to foster support solutions for those navigating the complexities of fertility challenges in the workplace, and the impact of loss on employees and their families
“Having hosted the Pink Elephants Workplace roundtable – the first of its kind in Australia, I’m incredibly proud to be sharing this report with you and leading the way forward with the needs of our workplace community in mind,” Payne said, adding that she hopes it will play a significant role in addressing false narratives of women’s experiences.
“Women and their families deserve better. The loss of our babies deserves to be met with validation, empathy, and understanding from governments, health professionals, workplaces, and the community.”