Posted By HSE Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help me or provide me with any advice. My wife works for a Private Nursery and is 11 weeks pregnant. Now her employer hasn't made life exactly easy for my wife since she has told her! She currently works from 8am until 5.30pm with one 45 minute break for lunch. Understandably my wife is extremely tired doing these hours, especially when your day consists of looking after ten 3 year olds! My wife was recently signed off work due to tiredness and I asked her boss whether, once she had conducted a risk assessment, she would consider reduced working hours (leave an hour earlier or start an hour later on some days) or added breaks during the day for my wife. The employers answer was for her to go part time but obviously with a reduce in pay to a part time salary. She said that it would not be fair on the other girls if she reduced her hours slightly. Now unfortunately we are not in a position at the moment to be able to afford to do this but her employer is not willing to consider any other options. She has said that she is going to conduct a risk assessment but we are unsure whether or not this happens as nothing seems to have changed! (She is still only getting one break and no added rest periods) What sort of things should her employer be including in the risk assessment? Is it that we are expecting too much or is my wife's employer being unreasonable? My wife does not want to leave her job but obviously we are concerned about our unborn child and is just asking for a bit more flexibility from her employer. Has anyone else been in a similar position? Has anyone got any advice to help us in this difficult period??!

Posted By HSE Thanks Steve, very useful.

Posted By shaunmd some info if you are still researching can be found on the ACAS website, i think its under parents working, its in there anyway. lots of good info.

Posted By Stuart Good Morning, I hope that this link helps. They have a generic checklist. Reference: New and Expectant Mothers at work: A guide for employers, HSG122, HSE Books, 2002. web site: www.usdaw.org.uk rgds, Stuart