Maternity leave

The Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz, MuSchG) lays out comprehensive guidelines for employees and employers aimed at protecting expectant mothers. Women are obliged to inform their employer as soon as possible about their pregnancy and due date to ensure that the company or organization can comply with maternity protection regulations.

It is only then that the extensive prohibitions of dismissal for the protection of expectant mothers which apply in Germany can take effect.

In order to protect the mother and her unborn child at the place of work, the employer is also obliged to protect the pregnant employee adequately from risks to life or health. For example, during pregnancy employees are prohibited from working night shifts between 8pm and 6am, working on Sundays or public holidays or working any overtime.

In order to secure the employee’s income during the period she is prohibited from working, the employer is obliged to pay an additional contribution to supplement maternity allowance.

Details of the various maternity protection measures and maternity leave at FAU and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen are available in the FAU Human Resources Handbook or from the Family Service. The Human Resources Handbook (Personalhandbuch) offers important information about internal maternity protection measures at FAU and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen.

The Family Service website gives an overview of the rules relating to maternity protection and parental leave at FAU.