Final answer:
An employee can take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family reasons such as a stillbirth or a miscarriage, as outlined by employee protection laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
An employee is allowed to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year for family reasons, which includes the unfortunate circumstances of a stillbirth or a miscarriage. This provision is in place to offer protection and support to employees during these difficult times.
It is part of broader legislation about family leave that is designed to provide time for healing and recovery without the risk of losing employment. Historically, the conversation around leave for pregnant employees has evolved significantly.
As early as 1950, women's leaders and organizations fought for the rights of female workers, pushing for provisions that would allow pregnant women to maintain their jobs and take unpaid leaves of absence, a movement which saw success with the implementation of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.