Home
News
Pregnancy news
One in 10 women quit their job after pregnancy loss because of poor workplace support, new report reveals

One in 10 women quit their job after pregnancy loss because of poor workplace support, new report reveals

Tommy's research highlights major gaps in support for parents during pregnancy, pregnancy loss and the return to work.

Female freelance worker looking away while sitting with laptop on table at home office

Getty/Maskot

MadeForMums

Published: July 13, 2026 at 11:55 AM

Save

Around one in 10 women who experienced pregnancy loss while in work left their job because they didn't receive enough support from their employer, according to new research from pregnancy and baby charity Tommy's.

The charity's latest report also found that many parents struggle when returning to work after having a baby, with almost everyone surveyed reporting challenges after maternity leave.

The findings have prompted Tommy's to call on employers to improve policies, train managers and offer more practical support for employees during pregnancy, after pregnancy loss and throughout early parenthood.

One in three women considered leaving their job after pregnancy loss

The survey of 1,001 people found that workplace experiences varied widely, particularly after miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn baby.

Among the 553 respondents who experienced pregnancy loss or baby loss while working:

29% considered leaving their job following their loss.
9%, around one in 10, went on to leave because of inadequate workplace support.
51% wanted adjustments to their workload, but only 24% said these were offered.
89% told someone at work about their loss, but only 25% informed their HR department.
Around one in 20 told no one because they feared it could affect their career.

The report also found that awareness of workplace policies was often low. Nearly a third of respondents (31%) believed their employer had no relevant policies for their situation, even where these may have existed.

Returning to work after maternity leave remains difficult

While two thirds (66%) of parents said they felt supported during pregnancy, confidence in workplace support dropped sharply after maternity leave.

Among those returning to work after having a baby:

Only 46% felt well supported when they returned.
More than half (52%) said their mental wellbeing worsened after returning to work.
Just 2% said they experienced no challenges following maternity leave.

Across all respondents, only 3% said their organisation provided any training on pregnancy loss or baby loss.

Tommy's calls for better workplace support

Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy's, said employers need to move beyond relying on individual managers' goodwill.

No one should have to navigate pregnancy, loss, or early parenthood without compassionate, reliable support at work. Yet for many, that support still isn't consistently there.

Kath Abrahams, Chief Executive of Tommy's

She added: "This report shows that while many organisations have strong foundations in place with managers often demonstrating genuine care, empathy, and a clear desire to help, good will and kindness alone are simply not enough.

"We need employers to recognise and address gaps in their approach to pregnancy and loss so that everyone can benefit from consistent, fit-for-purpose workplace support around one of life's most defining moments."

Tommy's is encouraging employers to adopt what it calls the "five S's":

Structure, with clear workplace policies and return-to-work planning.
Skills, through manager training on pregnancy and pregnancy loss.
Space, including flexible working and workload adjustments.
Supportive culture, where conversations about pregnancy and loss are encouraged.
Signposting, making internal and external support services easy to find.

Parents describe difficult workplace experiences

The report also includes first-hand accounts from employees who felt unsupported after pregnancy loss.

One respondent said: "The company had a miscarriage policy in place, but I wasn't made aware of this, had I known, I think two weeks off could have really helped my mental health in the long term."

Another shared: "My job required long periods of standing which I was finding difficult to do so requested a role where I could sit. This was denied."

Others described pressure to return to work quickly after a miscarriage and concerns that speaking openly about pregnancy loss could affect their careers.

The research was conducted independently by Think Stylist between February and March 2026. It surveyed UK adults aged 18 and over who were working while pregnant, experienced pregnancy or baby loss, or returned to work after having a baby.

Authors

MadeForMums