Miscarriage Leave Dilemma: What’s the Right Term for 6 Weeks Off?

If an employee gets 6 weeks of leave for a miscarriage, what should we call this leave? Maternity leave, special leave, or something else?

Thanks and regards,
S. Sarkar

As per the Maternity Benefit Act, any female employee can avail of this leave if she experiences this unfortunate incident. When documenting this in our leave register or document, we can refer to it as maternity leave and include a note in her file specifying that it was due to a miscarriage.

Such an unfortunate event is normally recorded as Compassionate Leave with the reason.

Regards,
Harsh

This would be covered under maternity leave with an annotation about her miscarriage.

Regards,
Vani

Vani has given the perfect answer. It has to be termed "Maternity Leave" because it is given under the Act. Moreover, no leave balance is deducted from the employee's account. In case it's called by any other name, there is a chance that by mistake the employee's leave balance may be reduced or deducted by someone. To prevent any mistake or confusion, its name and purpose should not be changed. At best, it can be called "Maternity Leave (miscarriage)."

Warm regards.

Leave granted to a female employee who encounters this unfortunate incident is also to be termed as "Maternity Leave" only. The period is not debited against any leave account but is to be recorded in the service dossier as such. While this is available to all government servants, in the private sector, it depends on the organization's policy. Usually, a medical certificate from a competent medical professional is to be obtained and kept as the supporting document.

Dear all,

The Act reads as follows:

Leave for Miscarriage

"9. Leave for miscarriage - In the case of miscarriage, a woman shall, on the production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage.

10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of a child, or miscarriage.

10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of a child, or miscarriage - A woman suffering from an illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of a child, or miscarriage shall, on the production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled, in addition to the period of absence allowed to her under section 6, or, as the case may be, under section 9, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a maximum period of one month."

As such, it's fair and right to name it as what the Act defines it: "leave for miscarriage".

Regards