Lidl is to become the first company in Ireland to recognise miscarriage as bereavement and offer staff compassionate leave.

Employees who have been impacted by early pregnancy loss will be able to avail of three days leave at full pay.

They will also be able to access mental health supports with up to five free sessions with a professional counsellor.

Lidl's Denise White-Hughes has had three miscarriages and hopes this new policy will allow more people to talk about their experience:

"For me, getting back to work was part of my process continuing on with life, but I'm also very cognisant that's not everyone's experience [...] we need to just be able to have safe conversations with people, and ask people what they need."

HSE figures show at least one in five women will have a miscarriage in their lifetime.