Posted By akm
I've just had a call from a colleague asking for advice now that a French employee of his has notified him that she's pregnant. Are the requirements similar to here i.e. carry out a personal risk assessment, or are measures more presciptive?

Posted By Merv Newman
Best practice is of course the "running risk assessment" ie reviewing her situation on a regular and frequent basis and making adjustments to the work situation as deemed necessary.

However, in reality, French employers rarely do any kind of RA unless it involves contractors working on-site.

(I say rarely as a some (not all and not even many) employers update their global risk assessment document on a roughly annual basis)

It is more likely to be up to the initiative of the employee to ask her employer to make some accommodation. However, once that accommodation has been accorded (say around month 3 or 4) the employer will consider duty to be done and forget about any further modifications which may be required later on. (particularly in a male oriented company) And don't expect anything to be recorded.

Best advice, which can compel the employer to make changes, is for the employee (or the employer) to involve the Médecin du Travail (most often female and even if not always heavily on the side of employees) who can declare the employee "inapt" for her current work. The employer must then propose changes which the Doctor finds suitable. Or put the employee on paid leave.

Note : at no time may the employer display a "negative" attitude to the fact of an employee being pregnant. No criticising, swearing or kicking the Eco-waste basket because of the problems she is causing. That is called "harcellement" (harassement)

But who could criticise a pregnant woman ?

Merv