I’m 16 weeks pregnant and this is my first pregnancy. I work as a care assistant, so I’m constantly standing, I’m lifting and moving, I don’t ever get a break for some breakfast or a drink and I’m starting to struggle and worry as I don’t feel it’s safe for me and as my first I’m worrying. I’ve asked my manager to take the more physical calls away from me until I return from maternity and they said they can’t do that as they’re too short staffed...is this right? Also I’ve suggested doing the evening calls instead as they’re more relaxed and less stressful but they said they can’t do that and I have to give a few months notice until they can maybe swap me. I don’t know what to do, just wondered if anyone had any suggestions please? Thanks!
Manager help! : I’m 16 weeks pregnant... - Pregnancy and Par...
Manager help!
Hi hun , if I was you I would contact the HR department for your rights or the head office as there is some flexibility with you being pregnant and requiring breaks etc also speak with your midwife regarding your situation and she will be able to help you or even give you a letter.
All the best with your pregnancy xx
Have they carried out a risk assessment for you as this should have been done, this is then the opportunity for you to put your needs across. Them being short staffed should not effect your or pregnancy. xx
In my job reasonable adjustments should be made and if they are unable to do this then alternative duties or paid leave must be provided. A risk assessment should be completed especially with a physically demanding job such as yours.
Check your maternity policy and have a look at the link below for some advice.
You should have a risk assessment, I work in care aswell, but my management were amazing, I was taken off heavy work and just done the light side. I was able to sit down when I wanted, they were amazing.
They should be looking after you, you should be allowed to rest when you need to, I was fine up till about 30 weeks and that’s when I was finding I had too sit down more and just walking up the stairs took it out of me. Can you not go further to talk to someone? x
Hi there
Your manager may not be fully up to speed on your rights in pregnancy, but that’s not your problem as they should be informing themselves not making arbitrary decisions based on things like short staffing. I also find it hard to believe that you’re the first mum to be they’ve ever supervised, so your manager may just be hoping you accept their word.
As others have already said, a risk assessment for your role should be completed and reasonable adjustments made. It sounds like you yourself have offered some good alternative solutions. I would suggest you outline your concerns and requests in writing and give a copy to your manager AND HR ASAP. It’s always a good idea to document these things, firstly because sensible managers will recognise you mean business and will be responsive and secondly, for the foolish managers/companies who think the rules don’t apply to them, you have proof of your request and leverage if they don’t respond. Most HR policies re pregnancy kick in either at a certain point in pregnancy and/or when you’ve formally notified them of your pregnancy in writing (my job was the same).
The key thing will be to inform yourself of your rights so you can advocate well for yourself. It might feel a bit uncomfortable having to push certain points but those rights are there for a reason and YOU are right to question the duties you’re being expected to continue with, for the well-being of yourself and your child. Have a read here and don’t be afraid to seek further support if you need it:
citizensadvice.org.uk/work/...
Good luck.
Ask them to schedule a time to complete your risk assessment. This is something they must do. It will give you the opportunity to get on paper the adjustments required to protect you. Making sure you take breaks is important and you have a right to 15 mins every 4 hours.
They’ll be even more short staff if you have to go off sick!
They need to do a risk assessment with you. You shouldn't be doing anything you don't feel comfortable with your babys more important than your job! Im a support worker and i wouldn't do anything i didn't feel comfortable with even if other pregnant girl did. I made sure i didnt miss meals and work made sure i wasn't put at risk with working with anyone with challenging needs. You shouldn't be lifting anyone or even using hosits (if you do) i use to work in care and the pregnant girls back then got put on lighter duties and just looked after the singles as we called them, people who only required one person to help assist them. Google your rights x
Are you zero hours? I ended up having a 3hr break in the middle of the day so I could eat and rest up. And then I started to do less calls in the day. But I got really bad pelvic girdle pain at 16wks so any movement was agonising, and then I got signed off at 20wks because I just couldn't do anything. But they should be doing everything they can to support you. My boss said they don't risk assess until 20+weeks but they wouldn't send me to any hard calls. If they still don't support you you could always go to cqc unless there is someone higher up than your boss to talk to like hr if you have someone like that in your company? Hope you find a solution.
i worked for a care home i got no risk assessment i had nothing they wouldnt reduce my hours so now my maternity is up im not going back
I’m zero hour contract, but I’m working Monday to Saturday and doing about 6/7 hours a day, I’m trying to squeeze my break in so I’m able to eat otherwise I’m feeling really faint and not well. My work refused me to go home because they were so short staffed and I really wasn’t feeling well! I’ve been told that basically I’m treating my pregnancy as if I’m ill but this is my first pregnancy I have no idea what to expect apart from what other people say, I have no idea when my maternity starts or what I can do about that either, I’ve had no support what’s so ever throughout my pregnancy. I’ve been told I have to go to the doctors or midwife and get a note before they can put me on easier calls because they feel like there isn’t any risks at the moment and before they can take me out of smokers calls they need a note from the midwife or doctor which I don’t think is fair but I see my midwife on Wednesday and I’m going to explain everything and see if they can help me as it sounds like my work are trying to push me out of work so they don’t have to worry about my maternity money. Thank you everyone for responding means a lot! I’ve looked online on all my rights are my work are not following any of these, so they’re definitely doing something wrong, I’ll speak to my midwife and hopefully things can get sorted! x
Half way there 😬❤️
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