Do you have to tell your employer you're pregnant even if you do not qualify for maternity pay and its a short term contract

[HarrieF]

Hi I was wondering if anyone could help advise. I'm currently on a short term contract which ends in June next year, I contract through a thrid party company who do the payroll for the company I'm working for and i'm paid via a day rate with two weeks notice required by either side to terminate the contract. However I am 24 weeks pregnant and due in December so will want to exit my contract early at the end of November. I will not be entitled to any maternity pay and the role will be over by the time i'm ready to go back to work. So I see no need to notify them i'm pregnant by the end of the 25th week like you would normally do to get your maternity leave/pay benefits. I had just planned on giving them two weeks notice mid November as required by my contract - howvwer I wasn't sure if I legally needed to tell them by the 25th week for any other reason. I work remotely and I have no issues taking time off for appointments.

It's an interesting question. Cant say I know the answer.

Presumably if you work remotely then no one is likely to see the bump? I think the 15 weeks notice is purely for maternity leave. But by notifying your employer you will be entitled to certain pregnancy rights as well as risk assessments. But perhaps this wouldn't be an issue for you.

I don't know the answer. I assume if it's just office work,you don't need a risk assessment? What about time out for check-ups or any pregnancy-related illness?

I'd do exactly as you're doing - November notice of 2 weeks - unless it blacklists you but seeing as that's the notice on both sides, I don't see how it would.
Giving them the heads up a little earlier if it will come as a shock is courteous but won't help you if they give you notice instead. I certainly wouldn't tell them now as they could decide to let you go, despite your honesty - as you aren't protected in the usual way?

Won’t you get paid leave for doctor’s appointments if you tell them?

but apart from protections like that, I don’t think you legally have to tell them.

Are you certain you won’t get any maternity pay? I have received it when my contract finished before the baby was due - but depends when you started. Otherwise - assuming you’re in the UK - you will surely qualify for maternity allowance. I’d have a look at that form because you may need the company to state why you don’t qualify for SMP (I’ve also had MA for more recent pregnancy and seem to recall something like this on the form).

As far as I know (it's a long time since I was writing health and safety policies) you don't need to tell them but if you don't then (at least from H and S) the employer doesn't make any adjustments / risk assessments.

Eg when I was working in cardiology pregnant women were taken off the on call rota and out of the cath lab. But the woman had to tell management they were pregnant for that.