Returned to work with my 15 week old baby
Reader Question: I returned to work two weeks ago with my 15 week old baby. I am very lucky as my employees have allowed my baby to come to work with me each day. Just wondering about worker’s compensation and the legal side of things?
Answer: According to Workcover NSW, if an employers provides you with permission to have a dependant on site with you in their workplace, the employer has a “duty of care” to all employees and anybody else in the workplace, this includes dependants. The employer needs to conduct a “risk assessment” of the work place to identify potential hazards to all people on site and develop a plan of how they will address those hazards. They need to ensure the environment is free of identifiable hazards. Your employer would also be wise to consider their own legal liabilities by speaking with their lawyer.
In my opinion, talk to your employer and openly discuss these points and any other issues you may have, after all you have to protect your child’s interests and get the job done.
I hope this helps.
Leigh
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Mum Zone’s resident Professional Job Specialist Leigh Kostiainen of 
