Pregnant and working? Know your rights before you need them.
You are pregnant and something has changed at work. The conversations are different. The opportunities have dried up. There is a version of events forming that does not include you.
Dismissal for a pregnancy or maternity reason is automatically unfair from day one, with no qualifying period and no cap on compensation. A lot of employers are counting on you not knowing that.
Written by a qualified solicitor with 23 years of employment law experience. England and Wales. General educational information, not individual legal advice.
What you get inside.
Eleven sections covering every stage from telling work you're pregnant to returning after leave. Plus eight ready-to-use email templates you can copy, paste, and adapt to your situation.
8 sections covering every stage.
From telling work you're pregnant through maternity leave and back to returning, with the protections that apply at each point.
8+ ready-to-use email templates.
Copy, paste, adapt, send. The exact wording for risk assessments, leave requests, flexible working, and pushback.
Maternity leave and pay explained.
Statutory rates, contractual top-ups, and the unpaid gap most people don't plan for until it lands.
Risk assessments.
What they should do, what to ask for, and what to say when it isn't done properly.
Redundancy protection.
The April 2024 changes that extended protection from the moment you tell your employer.
Neonatal Care Leave (April 2025).
The new statutory right and how to use it if your baby needs neonatal care.
The full table of contents.
What's covered.
- Telling work you're pregnant. Timing and wording.
- Risk assessments. The legal duty and what to ask for.
- Antenatal appointments. Time off rights.
- Maternity leave. Statutory, extended, and contractual.
- Maternity pay. SMP rates, qualifying rules, the unpaid gap.
- Redundancy protection during pregnancy and maternity (April 2024).
- Neonatal Care Leave (April 2025).
- Flexible working as a day-one right.
- Pregnancy discrimination. What it looks like and how to spot it.
- Returning to work. KIT days, phased returns, breastfeeding rights.
- If they treat you badly. The escalation route.
- Ready-to-use email templates for every stage.
The honest comparison.
If you're going to spend money getting this right, here's the picture. A solicitor will charge £500 + VAT for an initial consultation. This guide is the full legal picture plus the email templates, so you know your rights before you need them.
Who this is for.
If any of this is where you are right now, this is the guide for you.
- You're pregnant and working in the UK and you want to know your rights properly.
- You're planning a pregnancy and you want the legal picture before you tell anyone.
- Your employer has done a risk assessment that doesn't feel right.
- You've been quietly sidelined since announcing, and you don't know if that's discrimination.
- You're approaching maternity leave and trying to plan financially around the unpaid gap.
- You're a partner who wants to understand the protections that apply.
Get the guide.
One-off purchase, £39. Instant PDF download. Eleven sections plus the email templates.
Get the guide. £39Common questions.
Is this legal advice for my specific case?
No. This is general educational information for England and Wales. Every situation is different. For complex cases, consider booking a one-off consultation with a qualified employment solicitor.
Does this cover the April 2024 redundancy protection changes?
Yes. The redundancy protection extension is covered in full, including when the extra protection starts and ends.
What about Neonatal Care Leave?
Yes. The April 2025 Neonatal Care Leave right is included, including who qualifies and how to use it.
How is this delivered?
Instant download as a PDF after purchase. Files won't open? I'll fix it or refund you.
Does this cover Scotland or Northern Ireland?
No. England and Wales only. The legal framework, time limits, and statutory references are for England and Wales.
Can I get a refund if I don't find it useful?
Digital guides are non-refundable once downloaded. The full table of contents above shows exactly what's inside. If you have a question before buying, contact info@thesecretlawyer.co.uk.