Your Pregnancy Rights at Work: UK Employment Law Guide

Your Pregnancy Rights at Work

From the moment you tell your employer you're pregnant, UK employment law gives you extensive protections. Understanding these rights is essential — they protect you from the day you announce your pregnancy until you return from maternity leave.

Protection from Dismissal

It is automatically unfair to dismiss a woman because she is pregnant, regardless of how long she has worked for the employer. This protection covers:

•Dismissal during pregnancy

•Dismissal during maternity leave

•Dismissal because you took or sought to take maternity leave

•Redundancy — if you are selected for redundancy during pregnancy or maternity leave because of your pregnancy, this is unlawful

If you're made redundant while pregnant or on maternity leave, you have the right to be offered any suitable alternative vacancy that exists, and you have priority over other employees.

Risk Assessments

Your employer has a legal duty to carry out a workplace risk assessment once they know you're pregnant. This must identify any risks to your health or your baby's health, including:

•Heavy lifting or physical work

•Standing or sitting for long periods

•Exposure to chemicals, radiation, or infectious diseases

•Night work or excessive working hours

•Stress levels

If a risk is identified, your employer must:

1.Adjust your working conditions to remove the risk, or

2.Offer you suitable alternative work on the same terms, or

3.Suspend you on full pay if no safe alternative can be found

Paid Time Off for Antenatal Care

You have the right to paid time off for antenatal appointments, no matter how long you've worked for your employer. This includes:

•All appointments with your midwife or doctor

•Antenatal classes recommended by your midwife

•Hospital appointments related to your pregnancy

Your employer can ask to see your appointment card after the first appointment, but they cannot refuse you time off or require you to make up the hours.

Partners who are expecting a baby (including same-sex partners) also have the right to unpaid time off to attend up to two antenatal appointments.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010. It includes:

•Treating you less favourably because of your pregnancy

•Failing to offer you training, promotions, or opportunities

•Changing your role, responsibilities, or working conditions negatively

•Making derogatory comments about your pregnancy

•Failing to carry out a risk assessment

•Pressuring you about your return date or work plans

Pregnancy discrimination doesn't require you to compare yourself to anyone else — if you're treated unfavourably because of pregnancy, it's discrimination. Full stop. For more detail, read our dedicated guide on pregnancy discrimination at work. If your employer is making your position redundant, see our guide on redundancy during pregnancy and maternity leave to understand your enhanced protections.

Flexible Working During Pregnancy

While there's no specific right to flexible working during pregnancy, your employer should make reasonable adjustments if your pregnancy is causing difficulties. This might include:

•Allowing you to start later or finish earlier

•Providing more frequent breaks

•Allowing you to work from home

•Reducing your workload or adjusting duties

If you have a pregnancy-related health condition, your employer may also have duties under disability discrimination law to make reasonable adjustments.

Pregnancy-Related Sickness

If you're off sick with a pregnancy-related illness:

•In the first 36 weeks: You should receive your normal sick pay (SSP or contractual)

•In the last 4 weeks before your due date: If you're off with a pregnancy-related illness, your employer can trigger your maternity leave automatically

•Your pregnancy-related absences should not be counted in any sickness absence records or used against you in disciplinary proceedings

Health and Safety Protections

Specific health and safety regulations protect pregnant workers:

•Night work: If a medical certificate says night work could harm your health, your employer must offer daytime work or suspend you on full pay

•Rest facilities: Your employer must provide suitable rest facilities for pregnant employees

•Working hours: The Working Time Regulations limit your hours, and these protections are particularly important during pregnancy

What to Do If Your Rights Are Breached

If you believe your pregnancy rights are being violated:

1.Raise it informally with your manager or HR department

2.Put your concerns in writing — create a paper trail

3.Contact ACAS on 0300 123 1100 for free, confidential advice

4.Join a trade union if you haven't already — they can provide support and representation

5.Seek legal advice from a solicitor specialising in employment law

6.Make a formal grievance through your employer's grievance procedure

7.Employment Tribunal — as a last resort, you can bring a claim (the time limit is usually 3 months less a day from the act of discrimination)

Your Maternity Pay Rights

Understanding your financial entitlements is equally important:

•Calculate your SMP — see how much you'll receive

•Check Maternity Allowance — if you don't qualify for SMP

•See your take-home pay — after deductions

•Know your maternity leave rights — comprehensive guide

•Plan your maternity dates