Chris Breen and his wife faced an unimaginable tragedy when their baby, Priya, passed away at just six weeks old. While Chris managed to take the full three months of parental leave he had planned, his wife, who prefers to remain anonymous, was unexpectedly forced to return to work after her employer cancelled her paid maternity leave following their loss. Despite receiving four weeks of personal leave—insufficient to even cover the time Priya was alive—no additional support was granted.
Breen, a high school teacher with the New South Wales government, described the heart-wrenching disparity in their grieving process. While he stayed at home to cope with their loss, his wife found herself back at work, struggling with her emotions. “It’s just an unfair situation,” he remarked. Priya had been born prematurely and, despite initial signs of improvement in the NICU, ultimately succumbed to an unrelated condition shortly before her death.
After the ordeal, the couple discovered systemic gaps in workplace protections for bereaved parents. The Fair Work Ombudsman confirmed that the cancellation of her maternity leave was within legal bounds, which only added to their distress. They found that, according to existing laws, if a baby dies within the first 24 months of life, the parents are entitled to unpaid parental leave, yet they are often left without adequate support during a devastating time.
Now advocating for change, Breen and his wife have started a petition aimed at preventing the cancellation of maternity leave due to the death of an infant. Their petition has already garnered over 10,000 signatures, highlighting widespread public support for reform. The couple believes the current laws are vague and leave too much power in the hands of employers, often leading to inconsistencies in how such tragic cases are handled.
Since launching their initiative, the couple has connected with other bereaved parents, many of whom have faced similar challenges in claiming maternity leave after losing a child. Breen’s wife expressed outrage, stating that the treatment of parents in these situations is often “horrific and inhumane.” They are calling for legislative changes to ensure that employers cannot unilaterally decide on the provision of maternity leave following infant loss.
Academic experts reinforce their concerns, highlighting the need for clearer regulations to support grieving parents. A previous proposal aimed at enhancing maternity leave rights in cases of stillbirth lapsed without action in Parliament, but there are ongoing discussions to address this gap. As Breen and his wife navigate their grief, they remain committed to advocating for meaningful change to support others facing similar tragedies.