To resign? Or should I try to stick it out?

[fiveacres]

I started work last month after almost 4 years 'out' - just 5-8 hours p/w (zero hour contract) at £7 ph so not really hugely well paid! However, any extra money is useful.

But - I am exhausted. The hours I do are anti social; this morning I only did one hour but because I had to get up so early it's wiped me out for the rest of the day.

I sometimes have to deal with people smoking - I really don't like that.

I'm not paid for travel time so my hourly pay technically is less than £7 ph.

I would be finishing mid July as I am expecting a baby in August anyway.

I suppose it's a WWYD really - am I being silly and should I try to stick at it? Or should I give myself a break?

But if she doesn't need the money then the situation is different.

Commenting on work ethic etc is rude.

Ok.

I'm not on benefits.
I don't think it will affect mat pay
career post-baby ... not sure. It would be a useful reference for a course I want to do in the future but that is 2 years away and I can go back to it I think.
its my third child.
Am a single parent; he pays maintenance.

Thanks.

I could ask - not sure I'd get anywhere, though. Plus it's the lingering smell which is a bit yuck.

I'm not sure I want someone to give me some really compelling reasons to stick at it!

It sounds silly but I find I really dread it, even if it's only 2 hours say on a Friday, that hangs over me on Wednesday and Thursday too. Does that make sense? For the amount of money I actually get, it doesn't seem worth it.

But then I am wondering if I'm just being a bit lazy and spoilt and whiny!

If you neither need the money nor want the work then, to be honest, I'd quite without a second thought.

But saying that you want to quite because it's exhausting does make you sound a little bit 'lazy, spoilt and whiny' (your words!!) Sorry. I know being pregnant makes you more tired and emotional than normal but, in reality, you're barely doing any work at all.

It's the timings, more than anything. But point taken.

It doesn't sound like the positives outweigh the negatives, I really can't see the point or benefit in you continuing

Being a single SAHM is probably fairly hard work (not sure how old the other DC are). It's not like you are spending the rest of your time on the sofa. 3 days dreading the prospect of 2 hours work sounds a bit pointless. But I'm not sure if it is this particular job or just not being used to going to work. If it is the specific job, then ditching it makes sense. If it is working in general then quitting may make it feel harder when you do go back to work later.

I think that's sort of what I am a bit worried about Pico.

I have a one year old DD so I don't get loads and loads of sofa time ... some maybe I do wonder if I should try to stick at it so that I can at least say honestly to myself I tried. If that makes sense.

5 to 8 hours per week should not stress you and should be barely noticeable in a week. I'm sure a lot of people spend more time on mumsnet. Just can't imagine how anyone couldn't cope with it. Sorry think YABU

It's 5 to 8 paid hours it works out as double that when travel time is included! Still, I agree it is not a huge amount which is why I am cross with myself for feeling so drained from it.

The job sounds pointless at this moment in time.

It's hard to say if it will help me I'm the future or not - I just don't know

I don't think financially it makes a huge amount of difference as to whether I can support myself or not.

Give up and look after your baby.

It's much better for your developing baby if you are not stressed. If its a job you loved and gave you pleasure then stay .

There's going to be lots of opportunity to work in the future but right now your baby does not need a stressed out mum.

Will you get Maternity Allowance if you stick to it?

Oh just re read - if you've only done one month in years then I guess not.

A pregnant woman being exposed to cigarette smoke doesn't sound too great to me.

I don't think this exposes you or your baby to a huge risk but you're certainly not being unreasonable to want to avoid it

Out of interest, how is the risk of passive smoking assessed and minimized in jobs like this?

No, it's just a small amount of money I earn - works out at about £60 a week usually which is obviously around £250 a month.

I don't know Mist.

It's in people's homes, is the problem, and obviously even though I'm working in them, it's still a home to them.

Plus, a lot of the carers smoke too.

Entitlement to maternity allowance is having worked 26 of the 66 weeks preceding due date earning £30+ a week.

Surely the employer has some sort of legal responsibility to undertake a risk assessment for anyone who might be at increased risk of harm due to exposure to secondhand smoke?

They are breaking the law not paying you travel time if this puts your total hourly rate below the minimum wage. It's quite a hot topic at the moment.

As you are pregnant they are also supposed to do a risk assessment and take reasonable steps to remove risks such as exposure to toxic substances. They should be offering you visits to non-smokers if at all possible, also minimising heavy lifting.

If it was me I'd ditch this job and maybe look for some relevant voluntary work for a few weeks. If you go back to this sort of work afterwards I'd look for a better agency and think about joining a union.