No one can prepare you for parenthood
The associated legal and organizational challenges are certainly addressed. Since 2024, the Bremen Chamber of Employees has offered an interactive online tool covering pregnancy, maternity leave, and parental leave. This tool, "Becoming Parents – The Bremen Family Planner," allows employees in Bremen and Bremerhaven to calculate their relevant legal deadlines and dates based on their due date.
Orientation in a complex legal situation
Pregnancy is exciting enough in itself, but expectant mothers and fathers have to think about a whole host of other things: When do I inform my employer, when do I tell my colleagues? Do I need to plan my parental leave now? And how can I actually divide the responsibilities with my partner? The legal situation is sometimes complex, and the options are numerous. "It's not easy for expectant parents to keep track of all the necessary applications, from parental leave and child benefits to health insurance. We wanted to provide them with a guide that offers a timeline tailored to their needs," says Kaarina Hauer, Head of the Legal Department at the Chamber of Employees.
Individual timeline with dates and deadlines
Expecting a child – for many, the biggest change in life. This raises a number of questions, especially regarding work life. "Becoming Parents – The Bremen Family Planner" accompanies expectant parents on their journey into this new adventure and navigates the maze of regulations. Because those who have a child have special rights in the workplace. Using an interactive timeline, the new tool shows which applications can and must be submitted and when. Divided into six sections, from the beginning of pregnancy to the child's eighth birthday, the topics for each period are clearly presented. For example, in Phase 1, users learn what measures employers must take to protect pregnant women, how they are financially protected in the event of a work prohibition, and what the dismissal protection is for expectant mothers during a probationary period.
Checklist for expectant parents
Once the baby arrives, parents face a mountain of paperwork. To ensure that family time after the birth isn't neglected, we've created a checklist outlining which documents can be prepared in advance. We also provide the necessary links to the relevant authorities and applications. The information in the new family planner applies to births on or after September 1, 2021. By entering your child's due date or birthday, you'll receive personalized dates and deadlines. You can also view the overview as a checklist.
You can find the "Becoming a Parent" tool at: elternwerden.arbeitnehmerkammer.de
Source: Bremen Chamber of Employees, press release “Becoming Parents – The Bremen Family Planner” , February 26, 2024