Q: Two drivers are pregnant, which will leave me understaffed next year. I’ve asked HR for information but they are being a little slow. Can you provide any information?
A: Employees have a right not to suffer a detriment because they are pregnant.
Pregnant employees are entitled to 52 weeks’ maternity leave – 26 weeks’ ordinary maternity leave and 26 additional maternity leave. Employees, if they qualify, will receive 39 weeks’ statutory maternity pay. If they don’t they may be entitled to a maternity allowance.
An employee must notify you of her intentions to take maternity leave by the end of the 15th week before her expected week of childbirth.
She can normally start her maternity leave on any date which is no earlier than the beginning of the 11th week before the expected week of childbirth up to the birth.
A risk assessment should be carried out to ensure there is no health risk to your employee or her unborn child.
During pregnancy, an employee has the right to a reasonable amount of paid time off work to enable her to attend an antenatal clinic.
For more detailed information visit www.acas.org.uk/elearning/.
ACAS ADVISER
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