Employment rights in pregnancy

By Kate Harris, Project Manager at CFF

We need your help to spread the word to all pregnant working women about their employment rights.

Here at CFF and with our partners, we are involved in the delivery of a number of groups supporting woman in pregnancy.

These groups bring women and their supporters together to discuss key health and wellbeing topics. For example;
- Managing feelings and emotions such as stress, worry and anxiety
- Diet and nutrition, eating well for mum and baby
- Exercise and keeping active
- Good sleep
- Bonding with baby

We are passionate about these topics because we know they have a long term impact on pregnant women’s health and happiness as well as helping to give their babies the very best start in life.
We also know thinking about these things and making little changes early on in a pregnancy can maximise the impact for both mother and baby.
 
The trouble is, what we are finding is that women are accessing our sessions late in pregnancy. For those working women, often once they have started maternity leave from work close to their due date.
We fear it is not common knowledge that the paid time off all working women are entitled too, here in the UK can include antenatal or parenting classes.
 
This information can be found at Pregnant employees' rights - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service also discuss this on their website Time off for pregnancy appointments: Your maternity leave, pay and other rights - Acas
 
We know employment can be complicated and peoples individual situations can be complex but maybe not all pregnant working women are aware they are able to take paid time off to attend groups such as ours. Please help us spread the word.