In Deutschland wurde das Mutterschutzgesetz (MuSchG) erstmals 1952 eingeführt und
seither mehrfach überarbeitet. Zuletzt wurde es umfassend im Jahr 2018 novelliert.
Diese Gesetzesänderungen zielen darauf ab, den Schutz von Schwangeren und der ungeborenen
Kinder zu verbessern und gleichzeitig die Benachteiligung der Frauen zu minimieren
[1]. Dieser Beitrag schafft Klarheit über die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen der beruflichen
Teilhabe während der Schwangerschaft.
Abstract
The German Maternity Protection Act was first enacted in 1952 and has since been revised
multiple times to ensure the protection of pregnant employees. The 2018 reform introduced
significant updates to align the law with the modern labor market and the needs of
expectant mothers. The aims are twofold: protecting the health of mothers and their
unborn children and reducing occupational disadvantages.
One of the most important measures that employers have been required to implement
since 2018 is the individual risk assessment. This workplace analysis takes into account
the pregnant employee’s health condition and the specific workplace environment. The
goal is to enable pregnant women to continue working whenever possible, with general
employment restrictions only applied when absolutely necessary.
A key example of the feasibility and importance of individual risk assessments can
be seen in demanding medical fields such as cardiology and internal intensive care
medicine. These fields often present potential health risks due to exposure to infectious
agents or the physical strains associated with shift work. As a result, medical societies
and employers are called upon to develop tailored protection plans that enable pregnant
physicians to continue working, provided that neither their own health nor that of
their unborn child is at risk. It is therefore more important for more professional
societies to address the topic of pregnancy and maternity protection, to inform their
members about the legal framework and guidelines, and to provide them with a template
on how to practically facilitate professional participation during pregnancy and breastfeeding
in their respective fields or individual stages of training.
This approach could serve as a model for other medical societies. A position paper
evaluating all stages of training within each field could help provide clear guidance
on occupational safety during pregnancy, reducing uncertainty for both employees and
employers.
Schlüsselwörter
Mutterschutz - Intensivstation - Beschäftigungsverbot - Ressourcen - Weiterbeschäftigung
- Schwangerschaft
Keywords
maternity protection - intensive care medicine - prohibition of employment - human
resource planning - ongoing employment - pregnancy
