Does an employee have the right to be paid for time off for antenatal care?
Yes. Women are entitled to be paid at their usual rate of pay for the time they take off to keep antenatal appointments. Can an employee be prevented from carrying out their normal work duties whilst pregnant? Yes. Employers have a responsibility to assess risks to the health and safety of their employees. Where they employ women of childbearing age, the employer must assess the particular risks there may be to the health and safety of new, expectant and breastfeeding mothers and their babies. If risks that could harm new or expectant mothers, or their babies are identified, the employer must inform any women of childbearing age of the risk. The employer must also say how they intend to ensure new and expectant mothers are not exposed to risks. If it is not possible to avoid the risk, the employer must offer the woman suitable alternative work. If there is no suitable alternative work the employer must suspend the woman for as long as the risk exists. Women on maternity suspension are
