Work: pregnant or young mother, what are my rights?

Pregnant at work: can I adjust my hours?

You are authorized to attend compulsory medical examinations during your working hours without impacting your salary since these hours are assimilated to actual working time. On the other hand, your employer may require a medical certificate. It is also possible to obtain breaks and schedule adjustments : for example, starting later in the morning or leaving earlier in the evening, to avoid rush hour in transport. You will find all this information in your collective agreement. If nothing is planned, do not hesitate to talk to your HRD or your employer. For special events, special conditions!

Pregnancy at work: can I change my job?

If your state of health requires it, you can request on presentation of a medical certificate, a temporary change of job, without suffering a reduction in salary (even for a position of inferior qualification). Your employer cannot deny it to you. If the work is incompatible with your condition, a new assignment can also be offered to you by the employer, after advice from the occupational physician, and extended at the latter’s request for the month following the end of maternity leave: more comfortable chair, more frequent breaks … all these little advantages are due !

Pregnant at work: can I refuse heavy work?

Some works are strictly prohibited for pregnant women. Thus, throughout her pregnancy, a pregnant employee working at night (between 21 p.m. and 6 a.m.) or exposed to certain risks (handling toxic chemicals, carrying heavy loads, etc.) must be assigned to another position. If it proves impossible to transfer her to another job, she is exempt from working and continues to receive his salary.

Can I be fired if I am pregnant, or when I return from maternity leave?

A company is prohibited from dismissing a woman because she is pregnantet during her maternity leave, then the 4 weeks following resumption of work. But the companycan fire a pregnant woman for serious professional misconduct, or if she is unable to maintain your employment contract for a cause unrelated to your pregnancy.

How long is maternity leave?

The legal duration of maternity leave depends on the number of children born and unborn. For the first baby, it’s 16 weeks (6 before, 10 after). These leaves are flexible. With the doctor’s authorization, they can be lying down for a maximum of 2 weeks before or after birth. On the other hand, it is impossible to reduce the duration of maternity leave by more than 2 weeks. From the 3rd child, maternity leave is 26 weeks. 34 for twins. And all the trimesters of maternity leave count towards your retirement. Self-employed women and farmers now have the same maternity leave, i.e. 16 weeks. 

Am I allowed to breastfeed at work?

If you want to continue breastfeeding after returning to work, it is possible! Save morning, evening and weekend feedings, and express your milk during the day. Indeed, we know too little, but a young mother has every right to breastfeed at work. She has an unpaid hour in the workplace to express her milk or go to feed her baby. Please note, this breastfeeding at work is possible until the child is 1 year old. This breastfeeding period is reduced to twice 20 minutes per day if the employer provides the employee with a room dedicated to breastfeeding, etc. What the company may be required to do if it employs more than 100 people.

What aids for childcare?

Aid is more or less important depending on your resources. Applications for childcare support are made at the same time as registering for the crèche (which are not all at the same price). Supplement to the free choice of custody (CMG), aid for single parents, etc. Aid varies between € 80 and € 200 per month. The easiest way to find your way around according to your personal case is to do several simulations on the CAF site. From tax cuts are also possible, especially if you hire a childminder or if you choose shared custody with other parents. the tax credit is equal to 50% of the sums paid, up to a maximum limit of € 2 per child. Aid received for childcare must be deducted.

Can my business contribute to childcare costs?

Your works council or your employer can grant you afinancial assistance for the care of yourand baby for a maximum amount of € 1 per year. This amount is not subject to income tax, but suddenly, it can not give you a tax advantage (such as the tax reduction for the employment of an ass’mat for example). And this aid can also be used for finance the employment of an employee at home, than to pay for the nursery. As for the company nursery, its cost is not higher than that of another collective nursery, because it is fixed by the CAF. Note, however, that its implementation is solely at the goodwill of the employer (or the works council).