Introduction An employer has a moral and legal obligation to provide employees with a safe and healthy working environment. In some respects, the needs of pregnant employees are different from the general workplace. This response will depend not only on the type of work and its hazards, but also on the stage of pregnancy and whether any medical complications are present. Although management has no legal right to know whether or not an employee is pregnant, female employees should be encouraged to report their pregnancy to their immediate supervisor as early as possible so that relevant issues can be addressed promptly and problems averted or minimized.
Fatigue is also a common problem during the early and late stages of pregnancy.
In addition, physical changes such as weight gain increase the strain in a given posture. Towards the end of this trimester, more physical difficulties may be experienced, e.g., reduction in effective arm reach, a chair cannot be pulled in as close to a desk as usual. Dizziness and fainting may also occur, particularly in a hot environment or with prolonged standing. Fatigue is more pronounced and is often worsened by insomnia. There may also be a variety of aches and pains due to stretching of abdominal and pelvic muscles and ligaments.