Pregnancy Loss Is One of the Most Overlooked Forms of Grief. It Needs to Be Recognized in the Workplace

BY Lisa Jaffe | October 29, 2025

When I suffered a miscarriage just 10 weeks into my first pregnancy, I was left to deal with the emotional consequences on my own. I was expected to go right back to work and operate as if nothing had happened. It’s not as if it was a baby, people said. Better it happens now than later, they said. It seemed not just unhelpful, but cruel. 

An estimated 10% to 30% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. Yet most families face that loss in silence, with little acknowledgment from their communities or workplaces.

That silence is starting to break. Empathy,  a leading technology company transforming how the world plans for and navigates life’s toughest moments, is expanding its Loss Support product to include a program dedicated to pregnancy and infant loss.

“Pregnancy and infant loss are deeply personal and often invisible forms of grief,” said Sophie Ruddock, Empathy’s chief operating officer. “It’s one of the most common experiences employees face, yet it remains largely unrecognized in workplace policies.”

Empathy’s latest Grief Tax Report (2025) highlights why this issue matters, not just emotionally but organizationally:

  • 54% of those experiencing a loss used their own funds to pay for post-loss costs, even if loved ones had plans in place; out-of-pocket expenses per loss average $12,500.
  • 92% of people experiencing loss report health consequences such as panic attacks, weight changes, or anxiety.
  • Out-of-pocket costs average $12,500 per loss.
  • Work disruptions can last more than a year, often leading to absenteeism or resignation.
  • 78% of employees who suffer a loss don’t feel supported at work.

“Our research shows that employees who experience pregnancy loss report similar concerns, including thoughts of leaving and fears about job security,” Ruddock says. “This is not just an emotional crisis; it is a workplace one.”

A New Kind of Support

“People were using and finding comfort in our Loss Support platform program to cope with pregnancy losses,” Ruddock says. One HR leader who had used the program after an early miscarriage reported to Empathy that the experience “validated my grief and reminded me I wasn’t alone,” she said. Recognizing this need, Empathy set out to create dedicated resources tailored to this experience.

The new Pregnancy and Infant Loss program builds on Empathy’s existing infrastructure of care managers, mindfulness tools, and digital resources. After enrolling, employees receive a personalized care plan, daily guidance to help rebuild structure and confidence, support for workplace communication, and one-on-one sessions with trained care managers.

Expert resources were developed in partnership with Jessica Zucker, PhD, a leading psychologist specializing in reproductive and maternal mental health. The program also includes dedicated tools for non-carrying partners, a group often overlooked in traditional bereavement support.

“Our approach recognizes that pregnancy loss affects everyone involved,” Ruddock said. “Any parent or parent-to-be has imagined a future that suddenly feels taken away. Each deserves care and space to process that loss.”

Compassion Meets Technology

At Empathy, technology and human care go hand in hand. As Ruddock explains, technological innovation like AI allows Empathy to deliver “deeply personalized care at scale. Our technology helps tailor each care plan based on the user’s experience, stage of recovery, and expressed needs. It also automates administrative tasks. like paperwork reminders, so our team can focus on what matters most: human connection.” AI, she adds, is a “force multiplier.”

Beyond Loss: A Broader Mission

This launch is part of Empathy’s broader effort to support people through major life transitions. The company recently introduced LifeVault, which helps families prepare for the future through estate planning, and Leave Support, a partnership with MetLife designed to help employees on short-term leave return to work with confidence.

Sophie Ruddock, Empathy’s chief operating officer (company photo)

“Loss is universal,” Ruddock said. “Every employee will experience it, yet few companies are truly prepared. Addressing grief is not only compassionate; it is smart business. It builds loyalty, accelerates return-to-work timelines, and helps people feel seen.”

For HR leaders, the takeaway is clear: do not wait for a crisis. “Employees remember how they were treated when life was hardest,” Ruddock said. “Those who show care build trust that lasts far beyond recovery.”

Empathy continues to expand its specialized care journeys to support people through all of life’s hardest moments. The goal is simple: to make comprehensive care the new baseline for employee well-being. “Grief is inevitable,” she said, “but disruption does not have to be.”

Editor’s note: From Day One thanks our partner, Empathy, for sponsoring this thought leadership spotlight. Empathy is a leading technology company transforming the way people plan for and navigate life’s toughest moments. Serving more than 45 million policyholders across North America with loss support, Empathy currently partners with eight of the top ten U.S. life insurance carriers and handles one in five life insurance claims in the U.S. beyond the payout. With $162 million in funding from top-tier venture firms including Index Ventures, General Catalyst, Adams Street Partners, and other leading funds, as well as strategic investment from global financial institutions and Empathy Alliance partners, Empathy combines cutting-edge innovation with compassion to provide unparalleled support for bereavement, estate management, legacy planning, and more. Recognized by Apple, Google Play, and Fast Company, Empathy is setting the standard for modern family care and workplace benefits. Learn more at empathy.com

Lisa Jaffe is a Seattle-based writer who specializes in issues about health, wellness, and the healthcare industry. 

(Featured image by PeopleImages/iStock by Getty Images)

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