Motherhood is quite literally a life-changing experience. Not only do you go through psychological changes, but your body also goes through physical changes to accommodate the little champ in your womb. That is to say, there are a lot of things you need to be conscious of such as the environment you are spending most of your time in. For a working woman, this means their office. Although there is no legitimate law in place to ensure pregnant employees’ rights in an organization in Bangladesh, there are a few things that you, as an employer, can do to accommodate your pregnant colleagues. That being said, here are some tips to prepare your office for pregnant colleagues.
Accommodate them with proper furniture
Ensuring proper lumbar support during pregnancy is the most important thing that one needs to be careful about. And with the added load of the growing baby in the womb, you may want to rethink the way you are facilitating your colleagues in the office. Review the way your employees’ desk is set up throughout the pregnancy. Also, make sure to provide them with a chair with proper lumbar support so that they can sit comfortably and change the angle of the seat to change the pressure on your pelvis (and bladder!). Additionally, you can facilitate them with extra cushions and leg rest to make working in the office comfortable.
Relaxing corner
Every healthy office environment should have a relaxing area where employees can unwind from all the workloads and pressure of deadlines. This becomes even more crucial for a pregnant employee. Not only do they need time to relax for keeping a sound state of mind, they also need to move and take breaks in between work to avoid the swelling and discomfort of sitting for too long. This is one of the most valuable tips to prepare your office for pregnant colleagues. Also, as the bump grows, they will need to move more. So why not put a little effort to set up a relaxing corner with a comfortable chair?
Cleaner washroom
Ensuring proper hygiene is more important during pregnancy than any other time in a woman’s life. And nothing is more prone to germs and bacteria than the toilet or washroom. Office washrooms or toilets are notoriously bad for maintaining proper hygiene. For a pregnant employee, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. You as an employer can easily resolve the issue by setting up an upkeep routine. The bathroom needs to be clean and dry at all times. Additionally, anti-skid mats can be installed so that you don’t lose your balance or slip and fall.
Separate storage and dining facilities
During pregnancy, it is necessary to have snacks or small meals every two to three hours. Also, drinking plenty of water is essential for keeping a pregnant woman hydrated. And it would be very convenient and easy for the employees who are pregnant to have access to separate storage and dining facilities for keeping and having their food. Not only will the arrangement help them with their routines, it will also encourage them to leave their seats and move around the office, which is very important during pregnancy.
Happy employees lead to a healthier work environment. And nothing works better than facilitating the office with necessary arrangements and setting to accommodate your employees with their needs. Hopefully, these tips to prepare your office for pregnant colleagues will motivate you to take the right steps.
