Underwood Carpenter Employee Handbook - Latest 02 11 16

Please note, however, that owing to the complexity of the legislation the following is only a
summary.
Notification of Pregnancy
Once you have your pregnancy confirmed you should notify your Line Manager at the earliest
opportunity and, if possible, give an indication of when your baby is due. Notifying the Company of
pregnancy is particularly important for anyone whose work involves, for example, lifting or carrying.
However, at the latest, you are required to notify the Company of your intention to take maternity
leave by the 15 th week before your expected week of confinement (EWC). You will need to advise
the Company:
• That you are pregnant
• The week your baby is expected to be born
• When you want your maternity leave to start
You are entitled to change your mind about when you want to start your maternity leave,
providing you advise the Company at least 28 days in advance.
Once the form MAT B1 (which states the expected date of birth) has been issued by the midwife or
doctor, you should give this to the Finance and HR Manager.
The Company will respond in writing within 28 days of receiving your notification of your leave
plans, setting out the date of which you are expected to return to work if you take your full
maternity leave.
You should notify the Company of the date of your baby’s birth as soon as is convenient after the
birth. Maternity pay and leave provisions are applicable to anyone whose baby is born after 24
weeks of pregnancy.
Risk Assessment
The Company may carry out a risk assessment and if your job, or any of your duties, is identified as
carrying any risk for you or your unborn child you will be notified immediately and all reasonable
arrangements will be made to remove you from those risks. This may mean that your working
conditions are altered or that you are offered other more suitable duties for the duration of your
pregnancy. If neither of these options is possible it may be necessary to suspend you on full pay
until you are no longer at risk. If you unreasonably refuse a suitable alternative vacancy which is
offered you may lose your right to pay.
If you have any concerns about your own health and safety during your pregnancy at any time
you should speak to your Line Manager immediately.
Ante Natal Care
Time off with pay is allowed for the purposes of antenatal care advised by a doctor or midwife
provided that you can provide evidence of an appointment (except for your first ante natal
appointment, which you can attend first and provide evidence later).
The father/partner is entitled to attend up to 2 ante-natal appointments; time off for these
appointments will be unpaid.
Maternity Pay
If you have been employed by the Company for 26 weeks, 15 weeks before the week in which
your baby is due (the qualifying week) and your earnings are above the lower earnings limits, you
will be entitled to statutory maternity pay (SMP).
Employee Handbook Issue Date: November 2016
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