WOMEN who suffer a miscarriage while working for Thurrock Council will be entitled to a minimum of ten days paid leave – and possibly more at the discretion of their manager.

That was the outcome of a meeting of the council's general services committee tonight (Monday, 5 July) when senior members across the council's political spectrum were unanimous in backing the proposal.

The council currently allows parental bereavement leave for the death of a child under 18 or if they suffer a stillbirth beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Previously the council could also grant one week paid leave and up to 30 days unpaid leave on compassionate grounds but after debating a recommendation to allow five days paid leave, councillors went further this evening and extended it to ten days.

Members were responding to a report presented by Mykela Pratt, the council's strategic lead for HR, Resourcing and Improvement.

She told members that comparable examples including the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham have made the provision of up to five days paid leave (pro rata for part time employees) for their workforce following a miscarriage but on a suggestion from Cllr John Kent, Thurrock will now be offering ten days.

Cllr Shane Hebb said: "It is warming to see that we are trying to find more ways to be compassionate. You have my support for a measure that is compassionate to its core."

Cllr Mark Coxshall told the meeting that the guidelines for change had been steered through parliament by his partner, borough MP Jackie Doyle-Price, and he was pleased to see Thurrock Council supporting it.

Proposing his motion for ten days leave, rather than five, Cllr John Kent – who spoke after his Labour colleague Cllr Victoria Holloway has initially raised the issue of time to be allowed for grieving mums -said: "I understand the point that managers will have discretion. But those affected don't want to be relying on discretion, they want to be relying on certainty. I would be far happier if discretion kicked in after ten days."

That was agreed by all members, including independent Cllr Fraser Massey who said: "I did wonder if we were doing enough, so I fully support ten days."

Completing unanimous support and declaring the motion passed, council leader Rob Gledhill said: "It's one of those policies that you hope is not used that often but I think moving it to ten days is certainly the right thing."

Pre-meeting story.