What are the rights of a pregnant employee in the UK?

Question from Josh, What are the rights of a pregnant employee in the UK?

Answer from AI:

In the UK, pregnant employees have certain rights and protections under the law. These include the right to maternity leave, the right to paid time off for antenatal care, and the right to protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal.

Maternity Rights

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, all pregnant employees have the right to 52 weeks of maternity leave, regardless of how long they’ve been with the company. This is divided into 26 weeks of ordinary maternity leave and 26 weeks of additional maternity leave.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all their employees. This includes conducting a risk assessment for pregnant employees and taking reasonable steps to remove or reduce any identified risks. If the risks cannot be removed, the employer should offer suitable alternative work or, if that’s not possible, suspend the employee on full pay.

Working Hours and Breaks

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, workers have the right to a break of at least 20 minutes when working more than 6 hours a day, and to 11 hours rest in any 24-hour period. Pregnant workers may also have additional rights to rest under health and safety laws.

Discrimination

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against a woman because she is pregnant or has given birth. This includes treating her unfavourably because of her pregnancy or because she is exercising or seeking to exercise her right to maternity leave.

What can you do?

If you believe your rights are being violated, you may want to:

• Speak to your employer: Explain your concerns and ask them to address the issues.
• Contact your trade union: If you’re a member, they can provide advice and support.
• Get legal advice: A solicitor can help you understand your rights and options.
• Contact ACAS: The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service can provide free and impartial advice.
• Make a complaint to an employment tribunal: If you can’t resolve the issue with your employer, you may be able to make a claim to an employment tribunal. You should get legal advice before doing this.

Please note: This information is intended as a general guide and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a legal professional for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.