Pregnant women get helping hand

FINDING out that you are pregnant is usually a time of excitement and joy.

But it is not without its worries. From the moment of conception, expectant mothers go through great physical and emotional changes. These have knock-on effects that can lead to lifestyle changes, some minor, some major.

For working women, one of the biggest concerns is whether they will be able to cope with the demands of the job. Some women are able to carry on virtually as before, but others have jobs that almost certainly pose a risk to someone in a pregnant state.

By law, employers should carry out a risk assessment for every pregnant woman to find out whether the nature of their job or their working conditions needs to be changed, or whether a suitable alternative job should be found.

If this cannot be done and there is seen to be a risk, the employer should suspend the employee on full pay until their lawful period of maternity leave begins.

However, despite this, some employers still fail to make concessions to pregnant employees, and some even treat pregnancy as an illness, expecting women to use sick leave. Such attitudes have led to firms breaching health and safety legislation and facing prosecution. Some have been forced to make compensation payouts at industrial tribunals.

Last year, out of 1,434 potential tribunal cases involving pregnancy or maternity-related discrimination, 1,387 involved some breach of health and safety legislation.

Now it is hoped that fewer women will need to resort to such action after new guidance was published by the Health and Safety Executive. This is intended to help employers ensure that pregnant women have a safe and healthy experience at work.

The guidance, entitled New and Expectant Mothers at Work, A Guide for Employers, is supported by the Equal Opportunities Commission and the charity Tommy's which funds research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. It explains how to help pregnant women and advises on what potential hazards and harmful environments they should avoid.

It pays for employers to treat staff well. The Department of Trade and Industry estimates that it costs firms around £3,500 per employee to recruit replacement staff after a new or expectant mother has left.

"Women tend to stay with a company longer if they are treated well and they are more likely to come back after their maternity leave. That has got to be beneficial to the firm," said a spokesman for the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Head of the Health and Safety Executive's Health Management Unit Colleen Bowen said: "Employers have a legal and moral duty to protect women of childbearing age from hazards and risks in the workplace.

"Setting up a maternity policy is not difficult. The new guidance tells you how to do it, and gives greater benefits to employers and employees."

The guidance is available to companies at a charge of £9.50. Details from ww.hsebooks.co.uk or phone 01787 881165.

10:49 Thursday 13th March 2003

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