Pregnant employees have four main legal rights:
paid time off for antenatal care
maternity leave
maternity pay or maternity allowance
protection against unfair treatment, discrimination or dismissal
Antenatal care is not just medical appointments - it can also include antenatal or parenting classes if they have been recommended by a doctor or midwife.
Employers cannot change a pregnant employee’s contract terms and conditions without agreement - if they do they are in breach of contract.
Employers must give pregnant employees time off for antenatal care and pay their normal rate for this time off. The father or pregnant woman’s partner has the right to unpaid time off work to go to two antenatal appointments.
Pregnancy-related illnesses
Maternity leave and Statutory Maternity Pay will start automatically if the employee is off work for a pregnancy-related illness in the four weeks before the baby is due - it does not matter what has been previously agreed.
Compulsory maternity leave
If the employee is not taking Statutory Maternity Leave, they must take two weeks off after the baby is born - or four weeks if they work in a factory.
Telling the employer about the pregnancy
Employees must tell their employer about the pregnancy at least 15 weeks before the beginning of the week the baby is due.
If this is not possible (for example because they did not know they were pregnant) the employer must be told as soon as possible.
Employees must also tell the employer when they want to start their Statutory Maternity Leave and Statutory Maternity Pay.
Employees cannot take time off for antenatal appointments until they have told the employer about the pregnancy.
Health and safety for pregnant employees
When the employee tells their employer they are pregnant, the employer should assess the risks to the employee and their baby.
Risks could be caused by:
heavy lifting or carrying
standing or sitting for long periods without adequate breaks
exposure to toxic substances
long working hours
Where there are risks, the employer should take reasonable steps to remove them. For example, offering the employee different work or changing their hours.
The employer should suspend the employee on full pay if they cannot remove any risks. For example, offering suitable alternative work.
For full details about the regulations see the Health and Safety Executive website.
Pregnant employees who think they are at risk but their employer disagrees should talk to their health and safety or trade union representative. If your employer still refuses to do anything, talk to your doctor or contact the Health and Safety Executive.
Pregnancy and maternity discrimination
It is against the law to discriminate against anyone because of being pregnant.
Read the Acas guide on pregnancy and maternity discrimination for more information.
For further information on pregnant employees see GOV.UK's website.