Austria proposes bereavement leave for women after miscarriage

Austrian Social Minister Korinna Schumann (SPÖ) has proposed the introduction of a specialized “bereavement leave” (Trauerzeit) for women following a miscarriage. The proposal aims to provide tiered leave based on the stage of pregnancy: four weeks of leave starting from the 16th week, eight weeks from the 20th week, and up to 16 weeks from the 23rd week.

To maintain privacy, women who do not wish to disclose the miscarriage to their employer would retain the option to use standard sick leave. The proposed leave would be fully funded by the Family Burden Equalization Fund (Familienlastenausgleichsfonds) and would also extend to self-employed individuals. Additionally, Schumann intends to discuss a two-week leave period for partners and seeks to extend employment protection (Kündigungsschutz) to four months following a miscarriage.

This proposal differs from a previously suggested model by Family Minister Claudia Bauer (ÖVP), which followed a German template involving an opt-out system. Schumann emphasized that her plan does not weaken existing maternity protections, as mandatory maternity leave remains in place for stillbirths (infants weighing over 500 grams), while the new leave provides an additional option for miscarriages.