It's time we stop the National Ambulance Service mistreating pregnant employees.
The Issue
Employment law is there for a reason - to protect employees when they need it most. Expectations are that employers both public and private comply with this legislation and ensure employees are not treated unfairly. When it comes to public sector employment, you'd expect a government body to be following their own rules to set an example to other businesses.
Unfortunately, it appears the National Ambulance Service do not subscribe to this ethos. Recent events have shown that they have unfairly treated pregnant National Ambulance Service workers. When a paramedic informs their line manager they are pregnant, a risk assessment is conducted. Due to the nature of the role, the risk is recorded as too great and the paramedic is removed from frontline duties. Management is required by law to find suitable alternative work for said employees. However, the National Ambulance Service has let these employees down by not finding alternative duties, when it is evident that they exist. This results in the pregnant paramedic being put onto unpaid leave. Sadly, this isn't a once off incident, it has happened multiple times, and the issue has even been raised on RTE 1 Radio Joe Duffy Show: https://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21438645_53_27-09-2018_
Being a paramedic is one of the most stressful jobs out there, facing life and death situations every day. Paramedics save peoples lives, look after their health, yet their employer is compromising the health of their female employees by subjecting them to the stress of suddenly finding themselves without a pay-check, and having to fight this blatant disregard for the law. Stress in pregnancy has been scientifically linked to low birth weight and premature birth, among other complications.
Through this petition, we hope to raise awareness about this issue and with your support our goal is to let the National Ambulance Service know that this treatment of female employees is unfair, unjust can will not be tolerated.
Thank you for taking the time in completing this petition.
To protect the author, a pseudonym was used to create this petition.
The Issue
Employment law is there for a reason - to protect employees when they need it most. Expectations are that employers both public and private comply with this legislation and ensure employees are not treated unfairly. When it comes to public sector employment, you'd expect a government body to be following their own rules to set an example to other businesses.
Unfortunately, it appears the National Ambulance Service do not subscribe to this ethos. Recent events have shown that they have unfairly treated pregnant National Ambulance Service workers. When a paramedic informs their line manager they are pregnant, a risk assessment is conducted. Due to the nature of the role, the risk is recorded as too great and the paramedic is removed from frontline duties. Management is required by law to find suitable alternative work for said employees. However, the National Ambulance Service has let these employees down by not finding alternative duties, when it is evident that they exist. This results in the pregnant paramedic being put onto unpaid leave. Sadly, this isn't a once off incident, it has happened multiple times, and the issue has even been raised on RTE 1 Radio Joe Duffy Show: https://rte.ie/r.html?rii=b9_21438645_53_27-09-2018_
Being a paramedic is one of the most stressful jobs out there, facing life and death situations every day. Paramedics save peoples lives, look after their health, yet their employer is compromising the health of their female employees by subjecting them to the stress of suddenly finding themselves without a pay-check, and having to fight this blatant disregard for the law. Stress in pregnancy has been scientifically linked to low birth weight and premature birth, among other complications.
Through this petition, we hope to raise awareness about this issue and with your support our goal is to let the National Ambulance Service know that this treatment of female employees is unfair, unjust can will not be tolerated.
Thank you for taking the time in completing this petition.
To protect the author, a pseudonym was used to create this petition.
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 28 September 2018