The article details what you need to know about managing your pregnancy at work and how to keep healthy and safe.
Managing your pregnancy at work
What you need to know
When you become pregnant, there are responsibilities and obligations both you and your employer must be aware of in order to manage your transition to and from parental leave.
What are my responsibilities and my employer's responsibilities?
It's important that you review your own job responsibilities and work environment and notify your employer of any potential concerns and required changes as a result of your pregnancy.
Employers are responsible for ensuring they provide a safe workplace for expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy by carefully considering and discussing with you what changes may need to be accommodated and how.
Apart from making the necessary adjustments to your job and work environment, your employer must protect you from discrimination in employment. You have the right to work or continue to work during and following your pregnancy and you should be treated the same as other employees.
Keeping healthy and being safe
Keeping healthy and being safe at work is critical for expectant parents. This means you and your manager may need to consider what needs to change or be accommodated as a result of your pregnancy. Whilst many expectant parents can carry on and work in the same capacity as they did previously, it is important to acknowledge and accept that some things may need to be adjusted or stopped altogether.
This may include making changes to your job duties, your hours of work, the use of work equipment, travel arrangements or the work environment itself. Your needs may change throughout your pregnancy so assess your situation regularly. If you are not sure how your job or workplace may impact your pregnancy, it is advisable to seek qualified advice from your doctor.
If you feel your workplace is unsafe during your pregnancy, you should notify your manager, explain your concerns, and obtain a medical certificate from your doctor. The medical certificate will make recommendations on any health-related concerns that your employer should address.
Prioritise yourself
To support yourself at work during pregnancy one of the most important things to do is put yourself at the top of the priority list.
It helps to start to consider yourself as more than one person as you are now responsible for another person’s life. The physical aspects of your role should be thought through, with some people impacted quite differently depending on health history and current circumstances.
If you are impacted by your pregnancy in some way, take note to listen to what your body is telling you. You may need additional time off. Have the open conversations with your manager or another confidant in your team who you might be confident sharing what’s going on for you.
Remember, just because you physically can, it doesn’t mean you should. For example, if you travel for work and the medical professionals say you are still ok to fly, you may not feel you want to fly. Listen to yourself, it’s important not to continue working in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or impacts your pregnancy.
Discuss with you manager what your options are if you need to make appointments during work hours. Do this in advance so that all parties are clear on what is possible.
Pregnancy is the time to maximise flexible working. Flexible working is now the norm in most workplaces however it may not be your norm.
Some options include:
- Change the time or mode that you travel to work i.e. drive instead of taking public transport if it’s possible
- Work from home some days
- Reduce or change your hours
Remember, if there’s something you feel you need that will support you in the workplace or within your role you need to ask for it.