Balance Between Pregnancy and Work

Australian employees face various challenges when they try to combine pregnancy with work. Pregnancy is not only a major life event but also one that triggers a series of physical changes. These may include morning sickness, fatigue, and difficulty moving, which can affect one's work capacity.

In addition to endurance, pregnant women should communicate clearly and carry valid documentation. Rights relating to safety, leave, and reasonable adjustments are supported under Australian workplace laws. In practice, employees may be asked to provide evidence to support workplace requests.

Prime Medic is a reliable partner for parents seeking to simplify paperwork. Registered doctors with AHPRA can assess work capacity and consider pregnancy-related documentation via telehealth, where appropriate, supporting documentation needs while reducing administrative burden.

Do you need documents to support your leave for pregnancy? You can still request an online consultation to discuss whether documentation is appropriate or a doctor's visit.

When Pregnancy Prevents Working or Changing Work Schedule

Pregnancy brings many changes to the body. Some women can continue working normally right up until the very last week of the pregnancy, while others will have to endure some form of work distress early on in their pregnancy.

Common Pregnancy Symptoms Dilemma at Work

Pregnancy symptoms are not "illnesses" from the point of view of some people. However, from others' perspective, these symptoms may temporarily affect an employee's ability to work safely. therefore, they need to provide documentary evidence to that effect.

Vomiting and Nausea: These symptoms, which are common in the first three months, may make it impossible for a woman to travel to or even attend early-morning meetings.
Fatigue: Pregnancy significantly increases metabolism, leading to tiredness that may reduce concentration, especially when working in safety-sensitive roles.
Limitations of the Body: In the final weeks of pregnancy, work involving heavy lifting, prolonged standing, or certain exposures may require modification during pregnancy.
Ergonomic Issues: Sitting for 8 hours at a standard-height desk without an ergonomic chair can cause back pain and pelvic instability.

It is essential to discuss maternity modifications as soon as possible. Consider booking an online meeting with your GP to explain the impact of your symptoms on your work and to discuss whether medical documentation may support workplace adjustments.

Employer Acceptance Under the Fair Work Act

On many occasions, the main worry of an employee is the fear that their job will be threatened if they have to take leave for pregnancy-related issues. The truth is that there is strong protection under the Fair Work Act 2009, which employees need to be aware of.

Leave and Safety

Safe Job: If you are not able to do your current job safely (e.g. heavy lifting), you have a right to be given a "safe job" and your rate of pay should remain unchanged. This applies only if you provide appropriate evidence of the risk.
Special Maternity Leave: If you have a pregnancy-related illness that makes you unfit for work, you can take unpaid Special Maternity Leave or use your sick leave if it is available. This does not affect your entitlement to 12 months of unpaid parental leave.
Proof: Your employer has the right to request evidence for your absence. A medical certificate stating you are unfit for work due to a medical condition is generally accepted under Fair Work guidelines.

Our documents comply with Fair Work standards. Thus, they may be used as supporting evidence for workplace leave requests for maternity leave entitlements in Australia.

Certificates for Antenatal Appointments

Antennal care should be considered essential for both the parent and the baby. However, these visits are often booked during regular working hours.

Handling of Scheduled Absences

If you need to attend a medical appointment, employers may allow attendance at medical appointments in line with workplace policies. Generally, depending on your award or agreement, such time may be treated as sick leave, annual leave, or flexible make-up time.

Proof of Attendance: No matter what the leave kind is, your employer may ask you to provide a certificate of attendance.
Telehealth Convenience: If your antenatal check-up was very quick, you shouldn't have to spend extra time getting a paper slip from the doctor. If you have proof of your visit, documentation may be considered following review of your appointment details.

It is an excellent idea to have written proof of your scheduled leave, as it serves as both your work record and evidence that you were not penalised for taking care of your health. Through our platform, you can quickly get an antenatal appointment certificate.

Work Adjustments: Safe and Respectful Considerations

Some situations do not call for sick leave; they demand a change in work style. A letter from a doctor carries significant weight when negotiating workplace accommodation requests.

To make Work Safe

If necessary, a medical certificate can help to limit working areas as follows.

Light Work: If a doctor formally restricts lifting more than 5kg, other work duties may be permitted.
Seating Arrangement: If you need a chair with lumbar support, ask the company to provide one, or obtain permission from the manager to sit at the retail checkout instead of standing.
Change in Schedule: Avoiding the night shift or reducing hours to cope with fatigue may be a suggestion.

Employers and employees must adequately agree on the adjustments. If you have the workplace safety clearance note in letter form, this may assist employers when considering workplace adjustments.

Support for Documentation

Pregnancy comes with an unpredictable scenario of symptoms. You may suddenly find yourself incapable of going to work because of the severe nausea or migraine that hits you awake in the morning. Perhaps you just need some rest after a difficult day.

Help When the Opening Hours Are Over

Ease: You can easily reach a doctor when you book an after-hours appointment with them, whether late at night or during the weekends.
Emergency (short-notice) leave: If you are unable to work the shift you are scheduled for due to sudden illness, documentation may be provided following an after-hours consultation, where appropriate.
Less Exposure: By doing everything via telehealth, telehealth may reduce the need to attend a waiting room. This is especially important for pregnancy, when the immune system is modulated.

Except in an emergency, this after-hours support may allow you to remain at home where clinically appropriate. At the same time, it is still possible for you to notify your employer within the agreed time limits.

Privacy for Sensitive Personal Information

Whether or not to disclose pregnancy to one's employer is such a personal matter. If, however, you find yourself needing sick leave very early in pregnancy (when you haven't yet made the announcement), the situation can become quite tricky.

Keep it Confidential

Generic Certification: A doctor's signed note doesn't have to state that a person is "pregnant" or has "morning sickness." A more neutral phrase, such as "medical condition," would suffice.
Data Security: Treatment records are confidential. At Prime Medic, we follow applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements.
Control: You decide on the disclosure. With the aid of your certificate, you may justify your absence at work while at the same time keeping your pregnancy news to yourself until you are ready.

We recognise the importance of disclosing only what you want your employer to know. Please review our privacy safeguards, which detail how your data is protected.

If you want to know more about pregnancy at work rights, go to the websites of Fair Work Ombudsman or Safe Work Australia.