Ireland: Lidl introduces paid leave for staff suffering pregnancy loss

Supermarket chain Lidl announced on 4 June that it will offer paid leave to its Irish employees that suffer pregnancy loss or miscarriage, as well as partners of individuals suffering such an experience. The three days of compassionate leave, which echo measures adopted in the UK by a TV channel and a bank (see articles n°12492 and n°12521 respectively), are understood to represent a first in Ireland. The German group hopes to break a taboo, although it has not yet included women undergoing abortions in the policy. The latter remains a sensitive subject in the country, where abortion has only been legal since 2019.