Maternity Action response to Government guidance on COVID and self-isolation

COVID-19 Maternity NHS Women Work and health

Our response to Government guidance on COVID and self-isolation
Our Senior Legal Officer, Katie Wood, has compiled initial guidance on COVID and pregnant women’s rights at work in light of the Government guidance. It covers health and safety, working from home, sick pay, maternity leave and pay, dismissal and redundancy. Please read and share the blog.We have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, about the Government guidance on social distancing and vulnerable adults, including pregnant women. The guidance to self-isolate has clear implications for the income of pregnant women in the workforce during their pregnancy and maternity leave, and for retention of their job. We urge ministers to make a clear public statement that the dismissal of a pregnant woman simply for self-isolating, in line with the Government’s advice, would amount to unlawful pregnancy discrimination. See our letter here and help us share it and demand immediate response from the Government.We are preparing a list of FAQs on COVID, maternity and employment rights. We shall release it as soon as it is ready. Please check our website for regular updates.

 

Our advice lines are open
We provide free legal advice on maternity and employment rights to pregnant women and new parents and will carry on throughout this crisis. Please note that receive a huge number of calls under normal circumstances, we are experiencing a spike at the moment. Please check our information sheets first, they cover a comprehensive range of questions.Our National Maternity Rights Advice Line is 0808 802 0029. It is open all weekdays from 10 am to 1 pm for all callers who live outside London.For London residents, please call our London Maternity Rights Advice Line 0808 802 0057, open all weekdays except Wednesdays from 10 am to 1 pm.For those with questions about NHS charging for maternity care, our Maternity Care Access Advice Service is 0808 800 0041, open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 am to 12 noon.

Please share this information with your networks and direct your contacts to the right advice line number. If you are unable to get through, please be patient. This is an unprecendented situation and we have limited capacity. We are doing our best and we shall deal with all the calls we can handle.

Posted by Jean Smith on behalf of Maternity Action.