Introduction

Workers with pediatric-aged children are a group with important workplace specificities. Occupational health and family health teams are often approached with concerns about how to handle a child's illness, breastfeeding-related rights, parental leave, or flexible schedules. Often, healthcare professionals are the ones workers turn to for guidance and clarification on their rights and responsibilities. In addition to legal issues, these teams identify and mitigate occupational risks that affect the health of parents and children, ultimately protecting families.

Methodology

This is a narrative review conducted in September 2023, using the Portuguese Labor Code as a source, as well as practical guides such as "Childcare Allowance," "Specific Risks Allowance," and "Assistance Allowance for Children with Disabilities, Chronic Illness, or Oncological Disease" from the Institute for Social Security, I.P.

Contents

Workers with pediatric-aged children, especially in the early years of life, have certain rights enshrined in the Labor Code to facilitate the transition to this phase of life. It is the duty of healthcare professionals, within the context of their clinical practice, as members of the occupational health team or the family health team, to be familiar with some of these rights, particularly those related to parental leave, breastfeeding leave, certificate of incapacity for family care, leave for the care of a child with a chronic illness, exemption from overtime and night work, among others. It is also the right of the worker to have their working conditions assessed and adapted, based on the opinion of the Occupational Physician, and professionals who come into contact with this population should be aware of the specific particularities to consider.

Conclusion

Family doctors, occupational medicine physicians, and occupational health teams are essential in protecting the rights and health of working parents. Understanding the complexities of labor laws related to parenthood and occupational risks becomes essential in promoting inclusive work environments, helping workers balance their professional and family life.

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