Pregnancy at work

Rights at work

In the UK, you are entitled to:

Paid time off for maternity or ante natal appointments
You can take reasonable paid time off for pregnancy related care, while you are pregnant, although you must have told your employer about your pregnancy.

Maternity Leave
You are required to take a minimum of 2 weeks maternity leave after the birth of your baby. You can choose to take maternity leave any time from 11 weeks before your baby is due. Statutory maternity leave is 52 weeks. The first 26 weeks is ordinary maternity leave and the last 26 weeks is additional maternity leave.

Maternity Pay or Allowance
Statutory maternity pay is paid if you have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the time you are 15 weeks away from your due date.
Maternity Allowance is paid to some pregnant women who are not entitled to statutory maternity pay.

Health and wellbeing

Health and Safety
It is important to look after your wellbeing at work while pregnant. Once you tell your employer, they should carry out a risk assessment to see if your job poses any risk to you or your baby.
Use your break at lunchtime to eat and rest rather than rushing around or worse carrying on working!

Mental Health
If you are struggling with your mental health at work speak to your GP, Midwife or most importantly your employer. Approach HR if you don’t feel you can talk to your line manager.

Flexibility
If you are struggling with pregnancy symptoms ask your employer about working different hours and/or working from home if possible. Ask if reasonable adjustments can be made to enable you to do your job without added stress.

Support and advice

waf

Parenting and employment

2 2Seas

PATH – PerinAtal menTal Health – is part of the Interreg VA 2Seas programme and receives funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

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