Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'Inappropriate footwear' at work?

124 replies

Babysealion · 02/12/2013 12:27

I work in high-end retail and am 32 weeks pregnant. My feet have swollen up and it's now uncomfortable for me to wear anything except my Ugg boots.
For the last week at work I have been wearing them along with maternity clothes - the dresses that my company sell no longer fit me, and look hideously skin tight now anyway!
I'm doing 9 and 10 hour days where I am stood on my feet almost constantly.
This morning my manager told me I had to go change my shoes and had to go back to wearing my old black work ones which literally do not fit me. I have been shopping to try and get a bigger size but I don't have a lot of spare money and I can't seem to get any comfortable ones that I don't have to shove my feet into.
Work have told me I am no longer allowed to wear my boots. AIBU to think this is unfair? Or am I being 'entitled' as someone at work so kindly put it?

OP posts:
northlight · 02/12/2013 21:50

Hotter shoes aren't hot but they are comfortable.

monicalewinski · 02/12/2013 21:55

coveredinweetabix I forgot about the bending thing Blush.

GrumpyRedhead · 02/12/2013 22:42

Bear in mind that there's a chance your feet will have gone up in size anyway, if you end up buying shoes now you might get more use out of them than you think.

Lonecatwithkitten · 02/12/2013 23:04

As Grumpy has said not everyone gets their pre pregnancy feet backAngry. 10 years later I am still wearing the size bigger I went into temporarily when pregnant and I could get even them on in the first 10 days post delivery.

Edendance · 02/12/2013 23:18

No help I'm afraid... But for UGG type boots with removable inner soles and arch support, check out EMU boots, I swear by mine!

JohnnyBarthes · 02/12/2013 23:21

I couldn't give a stuff what a heavily pregnant retail assistant had on her feet, no matter how high bloody end the shop.

mum2bubble · 03/12/2013 02:11

the last couple months of pregnancy I wore clog style shoes - it is possible to get smartish slip on mule/clogs and saves the whole bending and fastening malarkey. They can also be a little more accommodating for swollen feet.

MrsCakesPremonition · 03/12/2013 02:17

Ooh - just remembered. Evans do good basic shoes in wide sizes - worth a look.

Original poster
Babysealion · 03/12/2013 02:47

Thank you everyone for posting the links and advice - am going to look through them all now bastard pregnancy insomnia
I was hoping not to finish work until 38 weeks but feel bloody rubbish stood on my feet all day. I work in a concession for a department store and asked my manager but there's not a lot they can do with regard to giving me something that doesn't involve standing so may have to re think my maternity leave plan. Also have very painful SPD so don't think I'll be much good for longer.

OP posts:
MrsGeorgeMichael · 03/12/2013 03:59

Aahh Babysealion - can you afford to go off earlier than planned?

I had 1 pregnancy that seen me leave work at about 30 weeks and 1 pregnancy that i worked the morning of the birth!! Hard to plan, feel your pain

Is it a very high end store? As a customer, i wouldn't be "put off" by a v pregnant staff member in comfy boots (assuming rest of you looks professional and you can do your job)

Original poster
Babysealion · 03/12/2013 04:17

Yes, very high end MrsGeorge Up until last week I was still wearing my 'uniform' (we get a set uniform allowance and are allowed to purchase dresses from our brands within that) but my bump seems to be getting bigger and bigger and I was beginning to look rather unsightly squeezed into the dresses so my manager said it was fine for me to wear my own clothes, so I wear things like maternity dresses, long tops, leggings etc. Customers comment all the time on my bump and say things like 'bet you haven't got long to go!', etc, so I am visibly heavily pregnant. And my boots are black. Looks like I offended some people up thread with my 'brass neck' of daring to turn up to work in comfy footwear though at 32 weeks pregnant with swollen feet and SPD Grin

OP posts:
perfectstorm · 03/12/2013 06:03

Argh, I have SPD too! Honestly I'd go on maternity leave as early as you can afford to - you can do yourself a serious injury if you don't coddle SPD. But I would look into physio with one of the people recommended by the Pelvic Partnership - it makes a big difference, I'm so much more mobile this pregnancy than last. And definitely get a new risk assessment, as you need to be sitting down a LOT more with SPD. They have to make reasonable adjustments for you, and you're protected with pregnancy doubly as it's gender, too. Honestly, post on the employment threads for Flowery's advice, your employer is not allowed to tell you you're being "entitled" or precious over this. I'm sure of it.

My feer are still bigger than they were before I had DS, so second that you may get more use out of the shoes than you expect, if that's any help. And Shoe Therapy really are comfy as anything.

perfectstorm · 03/12/2013 06:07

Pelvic Partnership

jctall79 · 03/12/2013 06:26

Hush Puppies online or from Brantano? I second the physio option too with the Spd, it can and may well get a lot worse. please take care x

Parliamo · 03/12/2013 06:54

Do you get proper sick pay? Go off sick till 36 weeks.

JoyeuxNoelHeadbands · 03/12/2013 06:57

Well I think your employers sound pretty damn poor if they can't even get you a stool to rest on every now and again

MildDrPepperAddiction · 03/12/2013 07:03

YABU. If your employer has a dress code that extends to pregnant employees also. I do sympathise, I had swollen feet also with dd but had to get appropriate, comfortable footwear.

AuntieStella · 03/12/2013 07:10

"Do you get proper sick pay? Go off sick till 36 weeks."

You can only have sick pay if you are ill, and OP has said nothing to suggest that she is.

OP: you do however need to get your tasks reviewed again, in light of the SPD. Are you seeing a physio? You should enquire about getting a written note about required and desirable adjustments.

wonkylegs · 03/12/2013 07:16

I sympathise, mine were horribly swollen too at that stage.
It was frustrating as I was still doing construction site work and had to buy new steel toe cap boots (££££) which i had literally just a few weeks wear of as I went into labour 4wks early.
I just sucked it up though and considered it part of buying appropriate clothes for being pregnant.
It was useful too when I broke my toe 2yrs ago as I could wear them again when nothing else fitted.

JohnnyBarthes · 03/12/2013 07:24

OP has SPD, Auntie

Sick pay is for those who aren't fit to work. Very soon, given the manager's intransigence, OP will be far from fit to work.

Original poster
Babysealion · 03/12/2013 07:41

I have a physio referral. I didn't realise physio could do that much damage to you :( I just thought it was another pregnancy niggle, albeit a very painful one.

OP posts:
Original poster
Babysealion · 03/12/2013 07:41

Oops I meant 'I didn't realise SPD could do that much damage to you'

OP posts:
jamdonut · 03/12/2013 07:51

Ugh! SPD! I had that each of my 3 pregnancies...horrible! Worse than all other pregnancy problems put together! Strange how it miraculously disappears after you have given birth...

As for the swelling...surely they should be allowing you to sit at this stage? And I'm very surprised that they won't let you wear what is comfortable. They sound very uncaring.

Delilahlilah · 03/12/2013 08:01

Be warned op, that your feet may stay a larger shoe size after you have the baby. It didn't happen with my first, but after my second I went from a 5 to a six! I didn't even have much trouble with swollen feet, they still managed to change sizes. Also, try ebay for shoes. Rocket Dog had a lot of designs of flat shoes for £20 delivered last week, May still be some on there. I found plain black slip on shoes in tesco for work before too, if that helps.

monicalewinski · 03/12/2013 08:05

I had SPD for both of mine - horrid condition!

I'm pretty sure your work are supposed to try and accommodate you as much as poss within reason - there must be something you can do that gets you off your feet for parts of the day at least?

re the boots, perhaps you can get a doctor's note to say that you have to wear the footwear that is most comfortable for you? It might be worth an ask?

Can you even go onto reduced hours? I worked up to the week I gave birth each time, but I was on mornings only for the last 3 weeks which was a massive help.

Hope you have a better day today!