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AIBU?

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Original poster

Travelling for work (uk) at 36 weeks pregnant

85 replies

Supermomdiggingupthelawn · 05/04/2024 16:57

Hello

Work have insisted I attend a meeting in person whilst 36 weeks pregnant. It’s 4 hours away by train, unfortunately I can’t drive that far due to PGP.

I could stay over one night but I’m nervous about being so far from home for any longer than necessary. That would be at least 8 hours train travel in a day.

Is that a reasonable request or am I being a bit precious?

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
SundayFundayz · 05/04/2024 17:15

Sunnysal · 05/04/2024 17:10

Train travel is not stressful. I don't see why you can't go. Your either working or your not.

Speaking as someone who travels on the train regularly for work… it’s often stressful. Delays, waiting on platforms, hoping someone isn’t in your reserved seat, wondering if you’ll be able to get to the toilet. And I have no idea how you sit in a table seat when 36 weeks pregnant so working is going to be a challenge.

OP you are not being unreasonable. Ask them to do a risk assessment on your work travel.

GRex · 05/04/2024 17:15

Talk to HR and ask for a risk assessment. Explain that PGP and greater need to urinate make it impossible. They might be trying to force you to start maternity early by calling in sick?

WhatHaveIFound · 05/04/2024 17:13

I'm surprised they've asked you to travel that far and I don't think you'd be unreasonable to ask for a risk assessment.

How do you feel about travelling that far? Do you think you'd be comfortable for 4 hours each way on a train? Is this your first baby?

Pregnancy is different for everyone. I'm self employed so worked locally right up the birth of my first DC but a few weeks before then DH and I turned down a job that was 5 hours from home as I didn't feel comfortable him being so far away.

Mrsttcno1 · 05/04/2024 17:12

Joolsin · 05/04/2024 17:05

I think I would be getting a letter from my doctor exempting me from travelling more than 1 hour from the hospital.

No GP is going to do that unless a high risk pregnancy or reason to believe there’s a concern, just “being pregnant” isn’t a reason to chain yourself to the hospital.

Sunnysal · 05/04/2024 17:10

Train travel is not stressful. I don't see why you can't go. Your either working or your not.

ISeeTheLight · 05/04/2024 17:06

Ask for them to do a risk assessment. Yanbu.

Joolsin · 05/04/2024 17:05

I think I would be getting a letter from my doctor exempting me from travelling more than 1 hour from the hospital.

Mummame2222 · 05/04/2024 17:05

Who’s voting YBU? How ridiculous. What a terrible idea to be so far away from where you will be giving birth at 36 weeks pregnant!

Mrsttcno1 · 05/04/2024 17:05

Hi OP, they can ask you to do that as technically if you’re not on maternity leave then you’re still expected to carry out your usual responsibilities and there would be nothing to say that due to pregnancy you CAN’T travel, only that you don’t want to.

I wouldn’t have been happy to do that travel either but if they are insistent on it then start maternity leave x

BigFatLiar · 05/04/2024 17:03

36 weeks? Intending to work up to the last minute? I'd be tempted to start maternity and get ready for the baby.

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