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Pregnancy

Unbearable work situation, what would you do?

12 replies

Hollyhop17 · 27/03/2017 13:31

So I am on a fixed term contract, which ends in September and I am due July 19. I just about qualify for our enhanced mat leave (which is very good, full pay for 4 months) and am currently scheduled to leave June 16 (taking holiday and then starting mat leave at week 37). I massively dislike my job so wont be returning and luckily wont have to pay anything back as my contract may not be extended.

Alongside hating the actual work, my team are very horrible and have been particularly unpleasant to me since I returned from long term sick leave (had HG). Two guys who are my peers are really nasty and despite me mentioning this to my line manager (who had also noticed their behaviour) nothing has really changed. I am feeling really isolated and lonely and frankly miserable at work. I have a horrible mental health condition which makes me fixate even more on how sad and uncomfortable I feel.

I am really tempted to just leave 11 weeks before my due date to get out of here quicker. I am not going past my due date so will definitely have the baby my mid July.

My DH doesnt think its a good idea, what would others do?

OP posts:

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Megatherium · 27/03/2017 13:32

Stay if you can, at least to get the enhanced maternity leave package. Start a formal grievance process based on workplace bullying and discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy.

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Hollyhop17 · 27/03/2017 13:38

I already qualify for it, so would still get it. It does mean I would need to go back to work quicker (or in my case look for a new job). I have just concluded a grievance against the org as a whole, which was in my favour, as they discriminated against me due to being off for so long with HG. So I am very reluctant to start another .

I know the sensible thing is to stick it out, but it feels very hard and June seems very far away...

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Waitingonasmile · 27/03/2017 13:41

Poor you what a horrible situation. Why don't you compromise and leave 6 weeks before your due date. That way you still have an end date in sight and you will get to spend longer with baby at other end. Hope things gets better

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Hollyhop17 · 27/03/2017 13:45

Yes, I feel thats what I may end up doing but I can be quite impulsive and am worried on a day when they are particularly unpleasant, like today, I may just throw the towel in. My manager has assured me she picked up extra work in my absence, not them so I am genuinely perplexed as to why they are treating me this way...

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Sparklyuggs · 27/03/2017 13:57

How easy can you get another job? Could you afford to be off longer than you expect to be?

Assuming:

A) you will get the enhanced maternity pay if you finish 11 weeks before EDD

B) financially you can afford to take a longer period off work in case looking for a new job

Then I'd finish 11 weeks before, to keep yourself calm and unstressed. Obviously if financially you will suffer that won't help the situation so it'd be worth staying for longer. A friend is Pg a teacher but hates the school so much has handed in her notice and won't return. She wasn't going to get mat pay so decided she may as well leave a toxic environment.

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MaverickSnoopy · 27/03/2017 14:34

Why does your DH not think it's a good idea?

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SorrelSoup · 27/03/2017 14:38

Get signed off sick by your gp. Your mat leave will trigger 4 weeks before your ewc.

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SorrelSoup · 27/03/2017 14:42

That was assuming you get company sick pay.

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Hollyhop17 · 27/03/2017 16:33

Thanks for all your replies. DH doesnt think its a good idea because it seems unfair that due to a hostile working envoironment I should have to lose out financially. I am hoping to go back to work after 10ish months, but if I was to go earlier obviously we would run out earlier so I would need to go back much sooner. He thinks I'll come to regret the decision once the baby is here.

Due to the horrors of HG I have used up all of my sick pay, so thats sadly not an option.

If the constant undermining and what I feel is bullying was to stop, I'd feel like I could make it to mid June so I am reluctant to leave so early but since raising it with my manager hasnt really helped, I am not sure that the situation will improve.

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zambean · 27/03/2017 17:58

I was in a very similar position, and I went on maternity leave at the earliest available opportunity (29 weeks). There seemed no good reason not to. People stay late at work to give them longer at home with the baby at the other end. Like you, my contract expires while I am on maternity leave, so I have no job to go back to. Also I didn't enjoy my job and found it difficult and stressful, and I didn't feel much guilt towards my colleagues who would be picking up the slack, for various reasons. For me, it was a no brainer.

The only down side is that I'm now 40 weeks and I am starting to get a little bit bored! But it was definitely the right decision for me.

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Sunshinegirl82 · 27/03/2017 20:44

If you would leave at the earliest opportunity anyway then why not raise a further grievance? Ok, it might not make you their favourite person but it sounds as though the relationship is pretty close to breaking down anyway and you won't be going back.

How could the business resolve matters for you? Could you work in a different team/office/from home for the next couple of months? Can you suggest this? Mention stress a lot!

Have you heard of a thing called a protected conversation? You could potentially raise the grievance and then approach them with a view to doing a deal. Terminate early, they pay you a lump sum tax free, you drop the grievance. It happens!

I'd be tempted to speak to an employment lawyer if you can afford it. ACAS if you can't. Good luck.

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Hollyhop17 · 27/03/2017 20:58

Thanks for your replies. Moving me to a different team would be ideal but never going to happen. I havent heard of a protected conversation so will look into it, thanks.

The relationship is pretty poor and we haven't officially talked about the end of my contract so they arent aware yet that I definitely dont want it renewed. But I really dont want to have to go through another grievance, I know its silly but I think it would do my self esteem, which is already pretty low, no good. I really want the two of them to lay off me. I am starting to think another conversation with my manager is the way to go, much as I dont want to.