To refuse to travel to head office in late pregnancy?

[ivanapoo]

Trivial post alert...

As part of my fairly senior and reasonably paid job role I am expected to spend some time in one of my employer's offices which is almost a 2 hour drive away - maybe three or four times a month for meetings etc.

As I get closer to my EDD (currently 32 weeks) I feel increasingly uncomfortable with the idea of being in the car by myself on such a long journey down mobile reception-free roads or on the motorway in case I go into labour etc. I'm also a bit concerned about tiredness as the commute turns my 8 hour day into a 12 hour day. I'm not crazy about driving at night either but that's another matter...

I'm due to work until 38 weeks.

WIBU to say I don't want to drive there after 35 weeks? Am I being precious? AIBU to want to work until 38 weeks but not fulfil this part of my job? Would a better alternative be to say I will travel there but want to leave early to get home at a reasonable hour?

While I don't think my employer would have a major issue with it, I want to appear professional and am sensitive to colleagues thinking I'm not pulling my weight because I am pregnant. I think i would feel guilty about suggesting it TBH - but I also want to feel safe and happy.

chased anyone in a job like that has an employer who is obligated to suspend them on full pay if the employer cannot find suitable other work. its what prison officers ect have to do.

incidently the law states the things like sitting/standing/travelling could be a risk not that it will be a risk.

its up to each indervidual to concider each thing. a employer to do a risk assesment and the employee to say either yes it is or no it isant.

for 1 woman sitting for long periods could be a risk, for a different woman it could be the required action for reduction of a different risk.

deary me. there is a lot of competitive 'ard as nails' here. there must be a lot of cardboard boxes on the motorway. oh no, hang on, boxes are a luxury. when you do give birth op i can recommend a nice hard shoulder and some gravel to keep your strength up.

deary me. there is a lot of competitive 'ard as nails' here. there must be a lot of cardboard boxes on the motorway. oh no, hang on, boxes are a luxury. when you do give birth op i can recommend a nice hard shoulder and some gravel to keep your strength up.

i love my phone.

Some employers value their employees enough to want them to continue to work for as long as is possible, even with reasonable adjustments, which the OP is asking for.

It makes business sense (as well as from society's POV) to treat employees well.

I worked right up to my due date. Because I work from home. And could work however many hours I was capable of each day. In whatever position I wanted to. Without having to go anywhere. I frankly am in awe of people who still manage a regular commute and a full day's work, sitting or moving around, anywhere after 30 wks.

I'm at some of these responses.

Using Skype or rearranging the role slightly is exactly the sort of adjustment an employer might need to make for a permanently disabled employee.

I wonder if the people saying, "Do it the way it's always been done or you shouldn't be at work at all" are the same ones who say, "Disability benefits should be cut because disabled people should be at work"?