Leave for Loss
Samantha Payne
Founder & CEO The Pink Elephants | Podcast Host | 23Women’sAgenda ‘Agenda Setter’ | Advocate ?? Australian of the Year NSW Finalist / Telstra Women in Business NSW Winner / AMP Tomorrowmaker / Westpac Social Changemaker
Returning to work after a miscarriage is no easy thing. With the right support, empathy & understanding it’s manageable. Today is my first day back after my third miscarriage, just under 2 weeks ago we found out our baby's heart had stopped beating. Another cruel loss to endure.
I want to thank everyone who has shown empathy & understanding after this loss all of your heartfelt messages of support mean so so much. All of your flower & gift deliveries show support, they validate that the loss & bereavement I’m going through again is very real.
The Bereavement Leave I have been fortunate to access has helped in so many ways. I’ve been gifted space to navigate those initial waves of grief that are all-consuming. I’ve been gifted days on the couch when quite honestly I didn’t know what else to do. I haven’t needed to wear a brave face to work to mask my pain & pretend I’m ok.
I’m on staggered return to work for now I’m feeling my way into what I can manage. I’ve always been driven & determined, I love my work & I thrive at work but I’m human and it’s ok to not be ok. Today I’m ok tomorrow might be a day when the wave crashes on my head & I can’t breathe. When all I want is my baby back. When it feels unbelievably cruel & unfair that I am here again navigating this.
I share to raise awareness into the impact of miscarriage & pregnancy loss. To ask you to consider what bereavement loss policy you have in place to support your people through miscarriage or pregnancy loss? Leave for Loss needs to be legislated but whilst we’re advocating for that you can adapt it earlier.
Thanks to our awesome team for continuing to support the thousands of other women & partners who like me are grieving the loss of their babies. If you’d like to help to empower us to continue to deliver our early intervention support programs to the 1 in 3 women in Australia who know this pain you can donate here
https://miscarriagesupport.org.au/donate-miscarriage-support/
If you want support to adopt a policy change start a conversation with me here & we can support you as part of our Fertility in the Workplace Program.
Here's also a useful excerpt from one of our resources if you'd like to learn what you can say to support others through miscarriage.
?
Cofounder & Exec Director @PROJECTROCKIT | Anti-bullying | Speaker | 2024 Scholar, The Marketing Academy | Westpac Social Change Fellow
4 年So grateful for you and your incredibly important work. Here for you.
Physical Therapist | Client-centered | Education | Virtual care| Ergonomics
4 年You’re so right. It never is. I often wonder about my would be 25 and 28-year-old. A parent’s heart will always have a place for them.
Director of Quality Control at BELL & Associates Construction
4 年Please know that you are loved Samantha ... and in those lonely quiet times, know that He has not forsaken you. He has empowered you to do great things and a day is soon coming that you will know great joy ... joy unspeakable. Forgive me for saying such things so directly to you, I do not know you. I just felt it important to write to you. Always be encouraged.
Empathy | Communication | Marketing | Brand
4 年As the dad of two kids I never got to meet, thank you for sharing here and being vulnerable and open about your loss. Thank you for your courage, speaking up and out, and encouraging others to do the same. Truly, thank you.