Two holding hands
Parent & Child
15.05.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 903

Maternity protection in the event of miscarriage: a new path for affected women

From June 1, 2025, a significant change in the law will come into force that will significantly improve maternity protection for women who suffer a miscarriage.

Women who suffer a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy are also entitled to maternity leave from June. The new regulations offer staggered periods of protection and financial support to give affected women the time they need to recover and raise awareness of the emotional and physical strain of miscarriage.

Text: Laura Rohsius, Parent & Child Consultant at pme Familienservice.

Maternity protection for miscarriages

New legal regulations on maternity protection in the event of a miscarriage

Until now, maternity protection only applied to miscarriages after the 24th week of pregnancy. From June 1, 2025, women who suffer a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy will also be legally entitled to maternity protection.

The duration of maternity leave depends on the course of the pregnancy in the event of miscarriage and is staggered: 

  • from the 13th week up to two weeks maternity leave
  • from the 17th week up to six weeks maternity leave
  • from the 20th week up to eight weeks maternity leave

What is the significance of the new maternity protection regulations in the event of a miscarriage?

These new regulations on maternity protection in the event of a miscarriage close a previous gap in the Maternity Protection Act and recognize the physical and psychological stress associated with a miscarriage.  

The introduction of staggered protection periods is an important step towards giving affected women the time they need to recover. During the protection periods, employers are not allowed to employ the women concerned unless they expressly declare their willingness to work.  

Women are also entitled to maternity benefit during this period, which provides financial relief.  

These regulations should also help to raise awareness in the world of work of the emotional, physical and psychological challenges associated with miscarriages.  

Tips for employers: be sensitive when dealing with affected employees

1. respect privacy: Respect the boundaries of the employee concerned and give her control over the conversation. Think about which details really need to be asked.

2. safe framework: Encourage the employee to share their situation without putting pressure on them. Create a safe atmosphere in which emotions are okay and you allow time for stories and sympathy.

3 Avoid empty phrases: Phrases such as "It'll be okay" or "It had its reasons" can be hurtful. Instead, you can simply listen and show understanding.

4. inform about new regulations: Make sure that all employees are informed about the new maternity protection regulations so that they know what rights and support they are entitled to.

5. offer flexibility: Depending on the workplace, discuss the possibility of flexible working hours or working from home to make it easier for the women concerned to return to work.

6. provide resources: Provide information about counseling services (e.g., pme Familienservice) and support groups that can offer support. This shows that the company cares about the well-being of its employees.

Through these measures, HR staff can help affected employees to feel supported and understood, which not only promotes their recovery, but also improves the working atmosphere.

Maternity protection, child benefit & co.: the pme parent advice service

Our parent counselors support parents in all matters from pregnancy to the child's adulthood.  

Personal and confidential: We are there for you online, by phone and on site. You can find more information on the pme parent counseling page.   

 

WFurther information:

 

zero New offer: referral to psychotherapeutic care

Woman is afraid
Offer
06.09.2024 Sabrina Ludwig 5141

New: Referral to psychotherapeutic care

Psychosocial counseling or coaching often helps to overcome a difficult life situation or conflict. For people with mental illnesses, however, this offer falls short. This is why the pme specialist counseling service refers its clients to initial therapeutic counseling, psychosomatic clinics or health insurance-financed psychotherapy if required.

Anyone looking for therapy needs two things above all: time and patience. Psychotherapy is hard to come by. On average, it takes up to six months to find a suitable psychotherapist. The waiting lists are long, and those looking can usually only reach the answering machines of the practices. The frustration threshold is quickly reached.

Tackling this hurdle is particularly difficult or even impossible if you are mentally ill yourself and suffer from depression, for example. "Then even the simplest things in everyday life are incredibly difficult. People with depression don't pick up the phone and spend months looking for a place in therapy," says Jutta Dreyer, Product Manager for Life Situation Coaching and pme Assistance. "That's why we want to provide support here and have put together a team that will start the search for a suitable place in therapy exclusively for pme customers."

Range of services (depending on the contractual agreement):

1. initial consultation/crisis intervention 24/7

2. referral to psychiatric care

3. anamnesis and discharge interviews by a psychological psychotherapist

4. placement in psychotherapy financed by health insurance (up to 8 hours of research)

5th consultation hour at the Schön Kliniken

6. shortened admission to the Schön Klinik Bad Arolsen (specialist clinic for psychosomatics)

7. online psychotherapy via MindDoc (online psychotherapy)

8. ongoing group coaching (type of self-help group to provide support and stability in difficult times)
 

Frequently requested counseling topics for mental illness/crisis are:

  • Dealing with employees who are mentally very stressed and ill (by managers)
  • Overburdened teams due to long-term absences
  • Crises and suicidal tendencies
  • Mentally ill employees who are desperately looking for psychotherapeutic care (hours of fruitless phone calls, waiting list, etc.)

Initial consultation with a psychological psychotherapist

Before a place in therapy or psychiatry can be arranged, it is often helpful for clients to have an initial consultation with a psychotherapist. During this consultation, the therapist clarifies, among other things, whether a mental illness is present and which treatment is the right one.

"The initial consultation is very important. Sometimes clients ask for psychotherapy. However, after we have talked to them in detail about their condition and medical history, addiction counseling or family counseling turns out to be suitable. Here, too, we start looking for a place".

Jutta Dreyer, family therapist, pme Familienservice

Focus of content:

1. anamnesis

2. psychoeducation about the disorder

3. joint development of an individual explanatory model for the problem

4. use of psychotherapeutic interventions

5. assistance with the problem

Note: The anamnesis is conducted by a psychological psychotherapist permanently employed by the pme Familienservice .

Good to know: 52 percent increase in days absent due to mental illness

Depression, anxiety, burnout: mental illness has a major impact on employee absenteeism and reached a new high in 2023. This is shown by the current DAK-Gesundheit mental health report based on the sick notes of 2.39 million DAK-insured employees. Across all occupational groups. DAK-insured employees had a total of 323 days of incapacity to work per 100 insured persons.



​​​​​​​The statistics show the development of days of incapacity for work (AU days) due to mental illness (F00-F99) in Germany from 2013 to 2023 (source: Statista).
 

Life coaching: Counseling and coaching for conflicts and crises

In our consultations and coaching sessions, we work according to the approach of solution-oriented consulting and support your employees in professional and private crises such as conflicts at work, psychological stress, parenting issues, addiction problems, financial emergencies and much more.

In recent years, the pme Familienservice has continued to develop its range of services in order to find suitable solutions for employees and companies.

Portrait photo of Laura Rohsius

Laura Rohsius

Consultant Parent & Child, pme Familienservice

As a graduate in education and educational science, Laura Rohsius has in-depth specialist knowledge of all aspects of having children, becoming and being parents, as well as all colorful parenting and family topics. She is also well versed in child protection.