As of: February 23, 2024, 12:00 p.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
Comments
Press
Split
Pregnant women often continue to work until a few weeks before giving birth.
In rare cases, however, an employment ban applies.
Pregnancy often turns life upside down.
Many questions, but also the joy of the unknown, determine the thoughts of the expectant parents.
Pregnant women should clarify early on what their future career will be like.
Most employees continue to work until a few weeks before the birth - although this of course depends on the type of job.
In several cases, an employment ban can apply to both pregnant and breastfeeding women.
First of all, the positive: Pregnant women enjoy special protection against dismissal.
Employment ban: The pregnant woman's salary usually remains the same
If such an employment ban applies, pregnant employees usually receive the so-called maternity protection wage.
“This corresponds to the average net salary for the last three months before the start of the month in which the pregnancy was discovered,” explains
lessons2go
.
The employer initially pays the wages, but can have a large part of the costs reimbursed by the health insurance company.
But when does such an employment ban actually apply?
There are different cases in which the ban comes into force.
In principle, there is nothing to stop pregnant women from continuing to work - unless there is a ban on employment.
© Westend61/IMAGO
General ban on employment
The most well-known form is the general employment ban.
This begins six weeks before birth and lasts until at least eight weeks after birth, or even twelve weeks in the case of premature births or the birth of several children.
However, women are allowed to continue working six weeks before the birth if they expressly wish to do so.
If the usual intervals are adhered to, women receive maternity benefit in the period surrounding the birth.
General employment ban
Regardless of individual circumstances, there are some basic employment bans for pregnant women.
This includes night work, explains the
AOK
: “Night work involves special efforts for pregnant and breastfeeding women and is therefore generally prohibited.
Night work is considered to be from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. There are exceptions for the time between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. if the woman agrees to do so, a doctor certifies that night work is safe and there is no risk to the woman or her child .
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Similar to night work, special rights apply to pregnant women and nursing mothers when working on Sundays and public holidays.
This is only legal if the woman expressly agrees to it, an exception to the general ban is permitted, she is granted a substitute day of rest in the following week and there is no risk to those affected or their child.
Individual employment ban
If a doctor finds that a woman's continued work endangers the health of the pregnant woman or her unborn child, he will issue an individual ban on employment.
High-risk pregnancies are particularly affected by this.
Another reason for a ban on employment for pregnant women is if the woman is employed in an environment where there is an increased risk of becoming infected with potentially dangerous diseases.
Examples of this are healthcare institutions or, for example, daycare centers.
For example, if a pregnant woman becomes infected with the rubella virus, she can pass it on to her unborn child, in whom it can cause serious damage to the inner ear, heart or eyes, warns
Präzisionsschutz.de
.