What are your ante-natal care rights?

Ante-natal care rights entitle certain working parents to reasonable paid time off work in order to attend ante-natal appointments.

The employee must be attending the appointment on the advice of a suitably qualified practitioner (doctor, registered midwife or registered nurse).

No minimum period of employment is required for the request to be valid, but the pregnant worker must produce, if requested, certification of pregnancy and proof of the appointment.

Employees have the right to be paid as normal during these appointments, and where they successfully bring a claim against the employer for non-payment, they can be awarded twice that amount. Employers refusing such requests and/or payments also stand the risk of liability under discrimination claims.

Certain employees have the right to accompany pregnant employees to ante-natal appointments, provided there is a “qualifying relationship” (including husband or civil partner, father, surrogate father, person in an enduring family relationship). This right is available for up to two appointments only.


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