We have a member of staff who is pregnant. We have identified the possibility of a risk in her role (manual handling and standing for long periods of time) and have offered her an alternative role within the Company that does not involve any lifting. This we believe is in the best interests of the person and her unborn baby.

The new role is sitting down with the offer of plenty of breaks to avoid any problems with her back.

Our employee has refused the offer of this alternative role as it is in a different part of the building (away from her mates!)and she states that sitting down all day causes her back ache (which is a change from her original reason which was the job was boring).

We have recieved two different answers to this question – one being from ACAS – about what we can do next.

One employement law person stated that we could suspend the employee without pay if she refuses to accept the new role.

ACAS stated that we should suspend with pay, which I am inclined to agree with, although it sticks in the throat a bit as the cynics amongst our management team feel that this employee wants to do nothing as she is somewhat lazy!! And before anybody jumps on the bandwagon that she is being persecuted for being pregnant this is not the case – she is just one of UK PLc’s bone idle people!!!

This employee is due to leave to start her maternity leave in approx 7-8 weeks and the baby is due in January 2008.

Advice greatly appreciated
Alex Grundy