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Original poster

Work & COVID

24 replies

Minniemeg · 09/04/2021 12:16

Hi! I’m new here but would just like some advice. I am a letting agent for student properties and have been working from home since January. My boss is making us come back next week, so I had made I’m aware I am 15 weeks pregnant and need to be carful.
He insisted we can no longer work from home, and that I must be able to go to properties and take photographs and conduct viewings baring in mind these properties hold up to 6/7/8 students which will be in at the time.
I had told him I do not feel comfortable in doing this due to covid, and they don’t seem to be bothered by the slightest - they said without me going out to houses there is not much work to be done in the office. (There is another colleague who is able to go out to the houses and making me go is just unnecessary.)
I have asked him to risk asses the whole situation (which he is conducting himself so can flower it up however he likes) but I just do not feel comfortable whatsoever.
It’s also a 40 minute walk to work so I’ll now be taking the bus at rush hour but again it doesn’t phase him.
I am so full of anxiety right now so any advice on how to go about this would be massively appreciated Halo

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 09/04/2021 12:18

Well TBH I can see their point, what would you do in the office?

AyyMacarena · 09/04/2021 12:22

You can still walk while pregnant. This would be less risk than a bus if it eases your anxiety.

Unfortunately, it appears that he is being fair. This is your job and you will still need to do it. It's just bad timing.

Is there a list of tasks you could take over from colleagues that will mean you can go to one office/wfh and they go to properties?

If you wear a mask and socially distance, I don't think you'd be at much risk going to peoples houses.

emilyfrost · 09/04/2021 12:23

There’s nothing you can do. If they want you back in the office and a safe risk assessment has been made then you must go back.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2nd trimester Covid-19 General pregnancy
OverTheRainbow88 · 09/04/2021 12:26

I would walk to work or cycle, wear a face mask and socially distance when in the office and in people’s houses.

You could call in advance and explain to the students they need to not be in the room you are photographing.

Really blows my mind that a year into a pandemic people are getting pregnant and then not wanting to work properly

ivfbeenbusy · 09/04/2021 12:29

TBH he has a point. I had twins in January and so I sympathise but pregnant women can hardly expect to work from home forever - you are no more at risk than anyone else unless you go about licking the worktops in a rental 🤷‍♀️
The guidance was for 28 weeks and over but even then covid is going to be with us forever and we can hardly Expect to stay home forever more at this point in pregnancy

TravellingSpoon · 09/04/2021 12:31

TBH how you get to work isnt rellay their problem is it.

Original poster
Minniemeg · 09/04/2021 12:32

I have never refused to go into the office, I’m happy to do this I just don’t feel safe going into houses where there’s numerous reports of these students hosting parties and up to god knows what. The exposure to covid is so high - I have asthma and I am extremely clinically vulnerable which is why I am so anxious. I have joint problems and can barely walk far without being in agony (believe me if I could walk I obviously would.) I want to help my colleagues as much as possible but I also want to be carful for myself and my baby.

OP posts:
LittleLionMan23 · 09/04/2021 12:34

Pregnant women are only advised to shield during their final trimester. This is because the risks of complications due to covid are much greater in the final trimester. In the first and second, there are no guidelines on alternative working or working from home.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees

Therefore your work have no reason to stop you coming in at this point. I understand it’s scary, especially as pregnant women are currently barred from having the vaccine. But you are at no greater risk than anyone else your age at this point, assuming you have no other underlying conditions.

LittleLionMan23 · 09/04/2021 12:35

Sorry, just seen your update. If you are classed as ECV, have you had your vaccine?

DDiva · 09/04/2021 12:35

You can call ahead and ask all tenants to be in one room whilst you're there. It is nothing to do with your employer how you get yo work.

Wear a mask and font touch things, this is your job pregnant or not.

greengrey · 09/04/2021 12:36

You got pregnant in the middle of a pandemic. It's not like you were already pregnant when the pandemic hit. This is on you.

Pregnancy is not a disability, you need to suck it up like the rest of us.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 09/04/2021 12:37

Have you seen the risk assessment? It should be a structured document, and you should be able to have a factual discussion about it. For example, if there are additional risks not included, or you think the risk of an occurrence or the consequences are incorrect then you can ask for these to be revised.

As you are pregnant, that needs to be considered specifically. I believe you are entitled to ask for a risk assessment, in case you job exposes you to radioactivity, certain chemicals, or you have to do heavy lifting etc. (I'd say these are unlikely in your role.)

Does your pregnancy make you more vulnerable to Covid? If so, that should be covered specifically in the RA.

Have you considered asking to very your hours so that you can catch a bus at a quieter time? Or to alter the pattern of your work tasks so that you can wfh some days? Or to temporarily swop tasks with a colleague (temporary as in 'while you are pregnant') so that you can avoid or minimise going to the properties?

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 09/04/2021 12:39

Just seen your update ...
Maybe if it's getting hard to do your job you need to be signed off??

WeAllHaveWings · 09/04/2021 12:45

While I understand your anxiety, I don't think you can insist to WFH if your job is to visit properties. You also cannot ask for this to be added to your colleagues workload.

What you can do is ask if they can support ways to reduce the risk.

  • Masks for you, for those you are showing around and anyone in the property when you visit
  • Hand sanitisers (gloves if they make you feel more comfortable)
  • Ideas how length of visiting times can be reduced/minimised
  • Can resident students be asked to keep out of the open areas for 15 mins when you are showing the property
  • Can you ask for occupied properties to be ventilated before you arrive

Not sure if you can insist on some of these as this is the students home, but doesn't hurt to ask for some consideration.

How you get to work is not their responsibility.

Abraxan · 09/04/2021 12:49

@LittleLionMan23

Sorry, just seen your update. If you are classed as ECV, have you had your vaccine?
If I remember rightly workplaces should have different things in place for CEV staff. This is the issue, not the pregnancy right now. I don't think pregnancy comes into it until 28 weeks when I looked at the work guidelines previously.
nicknamehelp · 09/04/2021 12:49

How u get to work is not your employers problem.
I know of pregnant women working on hospital wards so if safe for them to work I'm sure it's safe for you.
Who do you expect to do risk assessment?

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 09/04/2021 13:06

@Minniemeg

I have never refused to go into the office, I’m happy to do this I just don’t feel safe going into houses where there’s numerous reports of these students hosting parties and up to god knows what. The exposure to covid is so high - I have asthma and I am extremely clinically vulnerable which is why I am so anxious. I have joint problems and can barely walk far without being in agony (believe me if I could walk I obviously would.) I want to help my colleagues as much as possible but I also want to be carful for myself and my baby.
I don’t get why a student house is a risk but yet choosing to get pregnant in a pandemic with hospital visits etc is ok.

If you feel it’s that much of a risk why would you expect your colleague to do all the visits instead of sharing them?

TomHardyAndMe · 09/04/2021 13:07

I am extremely clinically vulnerable

With a shielding letter to prove it?

You are entitled to a risk assessment and a Covid-safe environment, ie social distancing, hand washing and masks.

starbrightstarlight8888 · 09/04/2021 13:13

If you're CEV you must have had your vaccine now which must make you feel better.

Squidelicious · 09/04/2021 14:07

Shielding has stopped - the advice is the same as it is for everyone else - work from home where you can.

I think it's a little bit unfair you expect your colleague to take all the risk for you, how do you know that she is not vulnerable, or living with someone who is vulnerable.

TomHardyAndMe · 09/04/2021 15:09

@Squidelicious

Shielding has stopped - the advice is the same as it is for everyone else - work from home where you can.

I think it's a little bit unfair you expect your colleague to take all the risk for you, how do you know that she is not vulnerable, or living with someone who is vulnerable.

Whilst the advice to shield has stopped, those conditions haven’t gone away and staff with them are entitled to a risk assessment.
marriedthegambler · 09/04/2021 15:25

Wear a mask and disposable gloves and bin the minute you exit the property. I worked I. Hospital wards until 28 weeks pregnant. You just need to be sensible.

Squidelicious · 09/04/2021 15:35

All staff are entitled to risk assessments.

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