To consider calling in sick

[Secretmomma79]

NC for this one to avoid getting busted. More of a WWYD?

9 weeks pregnant and struggling- on the bleurgh diet (eating whatever won't make me heave so basically beige food and apples), crushing fatigue... Nothing unusual in that respect.

I am a field based sales rep covering between 500 and 1000 miles a week, work get funny if staying away more than one night a week, and taking a full lunch break is frowned upon as we have call targets to hit. I've told my boss I haven't been very well of late (but not said I'm pregnant) so need to take it easy to avoid going off sick but this has been completely ignored, and leave request for end of this month has been denied (only one person at other end of country is off, whose presence has no bearing on my work). No TOIL for early starts/late finishes either.
I don't want special treatment, I just don't feel safe driving all these long distances- final straw was a 90 mile journey home taking 4 hours, veered between crying hysterically as I'd been up since 5am and wanting to quit in anger (but can't afford it). I seem to be stuck in some sort of traffic carnage at least 3 days a week and am sure the fatigue coupled with stress isn't helping little bean as blood pressure is a bit high already according to MW.

Not been to GP yet as diary is so ridiculous I'd have to cancel appointments which would draw attention to myself and in any case I'd have to self certify for the first week. Dreading another mental week but don't want to let customers down and feel guilty for considering pulling a sicky. No one would pick up my appointments, I'd just have to rearrange them, so the issue doesn't get resolved, just deferred (hopefully at the magic 12 week mark).

WWYD?

Glad to hear it all worked out for you midnightvelvet
I totally understand the other posters saying tell your employer but they may think that your employer will want to look after you when they find out. From my experience & from what you have said, it doesn't sound as though they would...they may make it even harder for you so that you quit & they can just replace you without having to worry about maternity leave etc. If you have a non family friendly company then you can easily be managed out of the door, I understand why you don't want to tell them.

You've hit the nail on the head, they have done this before so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that it would happen to me as well which is why I'm hesitant to say anything.

Sophia thanks for the suggestions, the bands help a little but have to keep taking them on and off as I have to wear short sleeves for work most of the time and don't want customers to twig! If I paid for a hotel, parking, dinner every week I'd be at least £400 a month worse off with no guarantee I could claim it back.

floralnomad I was hoping to feel less crap at 12 weeks! Sorry to hear you suffered with both your pregnancies

Thanks for the support rookie and antihop will contact Maternity Action tomorrow and look at my union options. On a good salary but bonuses make me very fortunate to have a comfortable standard of living. No office based jobs as head office is over 2 hours away so would have to move on. That incident at the airport sounds yuk, it's usually when you're on your own as well, isn't it so you can't even have a moan or be distracted from it.

vimfuego they basically pay whatever they would have to if a case got taken to a tribunal, usually 3 months' salary, but I'd lose the car also so would need to budget for travel/another car.

billsykesdog exactly! Really worried that something like what you've mentioned would happen.
Sounds like you have a great GP! Hope mine is as nice when I can get in to see them... Will take your advice and book an appointment to see what they say.

Hi all, just a quick update- went to see GP yesterday who was so understanding and helpful I could have cried! Been given a fit note to reduce my workload for the next few weeks, a CBT referral to help manage the stress and some anti-emetics. Decided to go down the route of better to tell work now and if they don't cut me a tiny bit of slack to come back and consider further action. Risk assessment is imminent.
Tried maternity action line but they are only open at certain times, also looking at union membership.

Thanks all for your support and advice x

Thanks for updating OP do let us know how you get on.