Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

To be dreading work next week?

17 replies

Kyrptonite · 10/05/2013 17:51

I went to the drs on Tuesday as I'd been having back pain, leg pain and fanjo pain. He said it was SPD and I need to get my midwife to refer me to physio. He also signed me off for a week.

I took my note into work and had my manager and deputy manager huffing and puffing about me being signed off to the point I offered to stay for the day to work. Deputy then questioned me on why the dr would sign me off for a bit of pain and when I explained what SPD was I got the look that meant I was obviously making it up.

My job involves a lot of picking up children to change on the changing unit, lifting them up on the tyre swings when it's my turn outside and occasionally having to pick them up when they're kicking off to take them outside. Am I being a bit precious if I say I can't do this? I'm only 22 weeks and I've had to go to the hospital 3 times with pain and bleeding so I'm a bit worried about things at the moment.

It's DC3. I haven't had SPD before and I had no idea how painful it was. Not sure if it makes a difference but manager is also MIL so I would've expected some form of support from her.

I don't know if I'm being a bit precious about everything.

OP posts:

LindyHemming · 10/05/2013 17:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JamieandtheMagicTorch · 10/05/2013 17:59

They are irritated because it puts them to a bit of inconvenience. They are being horrible and also bloody ignorant if they haven't heard of pelvic pain in pregnancy, even if they don't know the term SPD.

You are not being precious. Let them huff. Shame they can't huff in private or better still have a bit of sympathy and not huff at all...

Lj8893 · 10/05/2013 18:02

Have your work done a risk assessment with you? If so things like carrying children should have been taken into account on this, and a risk assessment should be ongoing if your situation changes so really you should have another risk assessment now you have been diagnosed with SPD.

If you haven't done a risk assessment then your work is breaking the law!

thebody · 10/05/2013 18:04

Your manager is your mil!!!!!!

What does your dh say about this?

Awful for you, they are treating you dreadfully.

Original poster

Kyrptonite · 10/05/2013 18:06

DP isn't overly impressed with her. We have had a lot of staff shortages recently but I would still have thought she could've kept how pissed off she was to herself.

They did a risk assessment and told me not to lift anything like tables when packing away and I've been asking someone else to change the heavier children. I am still expected to set up outside so lug bikes, crates of wooden blocks etc around.

Should there be a paper copy of a risk assessment?

OP posts:

Lj8893 · 10/05/2013 18:14

They shouldn't be telling you what you can and can't do with a risk assessment, the risk assessment should be carried out by your manager WITH you and therefore you have complete say in what you feel able to do and not do.
And a risk assessment should always be accessible to change, alter and update if the situation changes so you certainly should be updating your risk assessment.

I'd assume there is a paper copy but depends on how they would have done it. But again it should have been done with you!

Iggi101 · 10/05/2013 18:16

I have had pelvic girdle pain in pg. If I lifted a child there is no guarantee I wouldn't have dropped them (or fallen with them) so as a parent I wouldn't want you lifting my offspring in your condition, never mind how painful it must be for you. The doctor's word is final on this, surely. If they let you work when signed off I think it would invalidate their insurance.

Original poster

Kyrptonite · 10/05/2013 18:19

She did consider letting me work then said I had to go home.

I hadn't even thought about the dropping a child issue! Will have to ask them to do a proper risk assessment on Tuesday.

OP posts:

RenterNomad · 10/05/2013 18:21

I was so mobile and active with DC1 that it was a shock to have real back and pelvic girdle problems with DC2. I was even referred for physio. Guess my stomach wall had been destroyed by DC1 and I hadn't known it!

As for MIL, is she afraid of being accused of favouritism? Perhaps it will help fir her to consider that other employees could be demoralised and lose trust in management if they think the manager won't even offer appropriate care and concern for a DIL, let alone an outsider like one of them...?

IvorHughJarse · 10/05/2013 18:22

I have pelvic girdle pain because of a recent op (I'm not pregnant) and have been signed off work for three weeks. They've not said a dicky bird about it because, well, I'm signed off work. They have no right to make you feel shit. Especially not when you're carrying the manager's grandchild!

SugarplumKate · 10/05/2013 18:23

If you are signed off then you cannot work - your employer is being completely unreasonable, you cannot go back before the date on your cetificate unles syou get a fit note. SPD is hideous and as the posters have said, your employer should carry our a risk assessment. I wouldn't have thought you ought to be lifting children or equipment to be honest.

You need to arrange a meeting with your manager/MIL and explain all the above and ask for a proper risk assessment in light of your diagnosis.

You are not being precious at all. It will inconvenience your employer in a small way for a short time only and in any case, they are legally obliged to follow the guidelines.

Hugs xx

Wibblypiglikesbananas · 10/05/2013 18:26

You shouldn't have to ask them to do a risk assessment - they should have done one ASAP you told them you were pregnant.

And I'm shocked at your MIL putting her future grandchild at risk - what a horrid woman.

From what you've said, if this is what they're like when it comes to health and safety, I wouldn't want my children at this nursery.

Hope the rest of your pregnancy improves and you manage to keep your SPD in check. Family or not, your MIL needs to start acting like a proper employer.

andubelievedthat · 10/05/2013 19:09

And there is no legal max. weight a person can lift/can be expected to lift and not incur injury ,25kg is bandied about which is bloody rubbish ,its what you say /feel and that is legally that and in your condition you should be at home .

Yawn4theday · 10/05/2013 19:30

I can see your absence at work could be problematic for your manager (aka your bitch of a MIL) but tough.

As another poster said you have been signed off for a week, therefore you are not fit to work and should not be there at all.

Hopefully the physio will help but you will have this problem until delivery. Maybe get some more information and show it to her so she is able to understand what you are experiencing.

peacefuleasyfeeling · 10/05/2013 19:30

My GP referred me to a specialist women's health physio for SPD last week and I had my 1st appointment yesterday. Super quick turn around as they know how bloody painful it is and how difficult life becomes. No mention of having to wait to see a midwife. Poor you.

Your employer should have done a risk assessment as soon as they knew you were pregnant and yes, there should be a paper copy. My HT keeps updating mine as my pregnancy progresses and asked specifically how my SPD might affect me in the workplace in case we needed to make amendments. Seems like good practice to me.

For what it's worth, the physio was great and performed a thorough diagnostic assessment, before giving me lots of tips for how to manage every day tasks while minimising pain. She wrapped me in a huge body-stocking of tight Tubegrip, claiming this to be much more effective than most maternity belts available for sale, and it feels great (having said that, once I took it off last night, I took a tumble down the the stairs (7 months pregnant) when my leg just gave way during a sharp pang of pain. No harm done, luckily). She did say, bless her, that I was to cut my share of housework down to a bare minimum and let DP do the lion's share (he already does ) She didn't perform any manipulations or mobilisations or give me any exercises, which is what I had expected, but she had a convincing rationale for why specific exercises wouldn't be appropriate in my case. She did recommend paracetamol if the pain gets really bad.

I wish you well and some relief once you get to see a physio. Good luck.

LifeHope11 · 10/05/2013 19:49

I agree with the posters here. You have been signed off by your GP having been diagnosed as unfit to work, and your employer is on really shaky ground questioning your GP's diagnosis and making you feel bad.

PLEASE do not work or offer to work again for the duration of your sick leave. You really need to put your own well being first at this time. A responsible employer should refuse to allow you to work whilst signed off sick in any case. It is up to them to manage the situation and have a contingency plan....if they have not done so then that is entirely their problem.

pigletpower · 10/05/2013 22:29

How much maternity leave do they want you to have? About 5 minutes by the sound of it! Seriously consider going back at all.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread