If you’re pregnant, your employer has an obligation to risk assess your workplace in accordance with health and safety regulations. This includes taking into account the risk to you of infection from COVID-19, particularly given the most recent government advice on pregnant workers and the advice of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).
If they are unable to remove the risk of infection, then they should alter your working conditions or offer you an alternative role. And if they can’t do that, they need to suspend you on full pay until your maternity leave begins. That’s right – full pay. Not SSP.
Now some employers might not know this, but many will and might not be fulfilling their obligations, so we’ve drawn up a little reminder letter for them. You can copy and paste this, and send it to them.
If you send this email, and your employer responds negatively or still refuses to keep you safe, please call our helpline. Information correct as of 30 March 2020.
EMAIL FOR PREGNANT WORKERS
Dear
As you know I am currently XX week(s) pregnant and expecting my baby on XX/XX/2021.
As I am sure that you are aware, under section 16 of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1996, as my employer, you have a legal responsibility to conduct a workplace risk assessment for new or expectant mothers. In assessing the potential risks to my health and safety and that of my baby, the legislation clearly states that you must consider the impact of infectious diseases, including any travelling involved, and take steps to minimise these risks where possible, including altering my working conditions and hours if necessary.
Pregnant women are considered ‘clinically vulnerable’ to the effects of COVID-19, and the government has issued specific guidance relating to pregnant employees. This guidance states clearly that you must carry out a risk assessment for me and you must ensure that I can adhere to social distancing. I am concerned that under my current working conditions including my commute to work, neither criterion is met and consequently, I am at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 which can lead to severe illness in pregnant women.
I am therefore requesting that, in compliance with the aforementioned legislation, you look at measures that can be imposed to alter my working conditions with immediate effect and offer me an alternative solution whereby I am able to adhere to the government’s medical advice to socially distance myself during my pregnancy, and limit my exposure to COVID-19.
If you are unable to alter my working conditions or offer me an alternative role during this period, then under section 16 (3) of the aforementioned legislation you are obliged to suspend me for reasons relating to my maternity on full pay until the risks to me can be avoided. Again, the most recent government guidance for employers of pregnant women states that “pregnant women of any gestation should not be required to continue working if this is not supported by the risk assessment.”
Whilst I, of course, want to continue to support my team and the organisation throughout this challenging period, I am sure you understand my concerns given the potential harm that a lack of social distancing cause to both myself and my unborn child, I have no choice but to bring this matter to your attention.
[FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS]
I know that previous guidance from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) had distinguished between women who are pre-28 weeks pregnant and post-28 weeks pregnant however, they have now acknowledged the significant legal protection that applies to all pregnant workers, and stated that this must be followed in relation to COVID-19. Recent government guidance reinforces this employment right.
I would be grateful if you could please acknowledge receipt of this correspondence, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss matters with you further.
Yours sincerely,
Drafting Notes
If you are absent from work wholly or partly because of pregnancy after the beginning of the fourth week before your expected week of childbirth, but before the date you had intended to start your maternity leave, then your maternity leave will begin automatically on the first day of your absence. Therefore, your employer can amend your pay to statutory maternity pay accordingly should this happen.
If you are not a healthcare professional, then please delete the paragraph in blue accordingly.
