Work - risk assessment / when you can 'officially' start leave...

[Maxfell2008]

Hi, i am only 14 weeks so far, but thought to ask...

I have informed my place of work that i am expecting in mid august.

Not the nicest of employers but hey-ho...

Question is. When would you have a risk assessment or similar? Also how do you work out when you can go on leave? Work have told me, it will be ages before they will chat to me, so to not bother them...

P.s i work in a supermarket now moved onto checkouts....

Ta xx

I had to ask for my risk assessment, it was done at 32 week they're not a legal requirement though - reasonable adjustments are.
Earliest you can go in leave Is 29 weeks - you need to notify in writing by 25 weeks. Do you have a contract? Procedure should be in there

They have to make reasonable adjustments for you, most companies will do a risk assessment to work out what these needs to be. Sounds like they have done that if they've moved you, were you in a more physical role before?

Not sure on when exactly you can take leave, but the .gov website is great for advice.

I told my employers at 8 weeks, they did a risk assessment a couple of weeks after. I've already said that I'll start my maternity leave two weeks before my due date (which may be hilariously optimistic), you can start leave 11 weeks before IIRC though.

From 29 weeks I think you can leave. I had a risk assessment within a week of me telling them. They are rubbish as its common sense - don't drink bleach, don't walk on slippery serfaces, do not put yourself in a position of confrontation etc!

Metal - I am working until 2 weeks before due date. I probably should have left at 35 weeks as I'm exhausted all the time. Luckily my last day is just over a week away!
I would say have a think about 38 weeks. If your job is demanding it maybe really hard (mine is an office job and I have a centre assistant to help)

If it's one of the big supermarket chains they should have a staff handbook with a maternity policy in it.