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Pregnancy and Maternity Guide

Last Updated
17 December 2025
Source
EHRC

Resource Tags

Content Types:

Guidance

Relevant Driver(s):

1. Strengthening leadership 3. Ensuring effective regulatory and policy environment 5. Enhancing capability and culture

Specific Action(s):

1D. Ensure compliance with legal obligations 3A. Understand legal obligations 3B. Develop equality and human rights policies 5A. Put in place comprehensive training programmes

Implementation Levels:

Foundation

Prior Knowledge Required:

Basic

Organisation Size:

Large Medium Small

Sector:

Culture and Heritage Economic Development/Enterprise Education Emergency Services Environment Government Health and social care Housing Human Rights Justice Local authorities Third Sector Transport

Role:

HR Professionals Legal & Compliance Staff Senior Leaders/Management

Resource content

A guide covering pregnancy and maternity rights at work, including protection from discrimination, returning to work, health and safety and employers’ legal duties.

To get the most from this resource

Integration with EHR Framework:

Link to Driver 1A (Strategic Approach): Use this guide as foundation for developing organisational EHR strategy that addresses pregnancy/maternity as part of broader equality approach
Connect to Driver 3B (Develop Policies): Expand basic compliance guidance into comprehensive equality policies covering all protected characteristics
Enhance with Driver 6C (Stakeholder Feedback): Add mechanisms for gathering feedback from pregnant employees and new parents on policy effectiveness

Broader Context Development:

Supplement with organisational culture change guidance
Add measurement tools for employee satisfaction and policy impact
Connect pregnancy/maternity rights to wider family-friendly and inclusive workplace policies
Include training for managers on supportive leadership during pregnancy/maternity transitions

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