Holding the baby

摘要

AROUND 250 000 employees are pregnant in the UK at any one time. Sadly, 78 percent of women feel stressed or unhappy during this period, according to a survey undertaken by Tommy's, the baby charity, in 2004. One in 6 blame this on work-related problems. The survey also reveals that a'third of pregnant women feel that they over exert themselves, with one in 5 pointing the finger at their employer for putting undue pressure on them. "Our survey shows that thousands of women are having unhappy and stressful pregnancies because of their work," explained Tommy's chief executive, Jane Brewin. This is hardly surprising, considering that only 7 percent of employers know that they are legally obliged to carry out a risk assessment for pregnant women (according to a recent survey from the Equal Opportunity Commission). So what can employers do to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and what are their legal duties?