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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Only pregnant one out of my colleagues... aibu ?

54 replies

karmacoma1 · 18/12/2016 20:15

Back story - work in an office 9-5 with 6 other, non-pregnant people.

At Christmas, our work drops dramatically, so we have the option of going to the local company warehouse to help out, which was agreed for us all to do last week.

I agreed to do and see how I got on (I'm 7 months pregnant) on arriving at the warehouse, I made them aware I was pregnant - however there was no health and safety guidance for me, or any of my colleagues, and by the end of the shift my hips were in agony, so I called and spoke to my manager and said I would have to work for the office for the rest of the week.

So for the rest of the week, I went in to the office and worked 9-5. This is a little annoying is because one of the 'perks' of the warehouse outing is they only work 10-2pm - effectively half a day. But I sucked it up, and went with it.

On Friday as I was in on my own, all my colleagues phones were going non-stop, I had to deal with all their customers issues, whilst they were out, effectively on a half day. Infuriating, but again I thought well they will all be back in Monday.

Then my manager got a call from them asking if they could work a further 3/4 days this week at the warehouse, leaving me on my own again - and he agreed!!! I pointed out I didn't think this was fair - last week was arranged, but this isn't on - they have customer issues to deal with, I don't see why I should have to do that for them
Whilst they effectively only work half days.

He couldn't see my point, so now I'm left feeling extremely resentful.

Aibu?!

OP posts:

BobbieDog · 18/12/2016 21:29

Yanbu

I know many people who wouldnt be happy with this. Is there any chance you could just answer your own phone and no one elses? After all if you was in the warehouse then no one would be answering the calls anyway!

I do think you should also go home at the same time as everyone else.

BayaGoji · 18/12/2016 21:30

I would just stay calm in the office, answer the customers that you can, don't rush about or stress yourself about it. Be cool. If some customers don't get called back or the phone they're calling doesn't get answered, then perhaps your boss will quickly realise that you do in fact need help if you are to get all the work in the office done.

ThatsWhatYouDo · 18/12/2016 21:30

YANBU there should be someone to help with the increased burden of work in the office.

What was the plan for dealing with customer calls if you were all in the warehouse?

crashdoll · 18/12/2016 21:32

No, I don't think YABU and I'm surprised that others think you are. It's not just about the perks, you are being pushed to do extra work because you can't be in the warehouse.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 18/12/2016 21:36

I am assuming if the original plan was that you were ALL in the warehouse none of the phones would be being answered? If it was that important that someone was answering calls they would have arranged to split the warehouse and office work so that there was cover in the office.

Just answer your own phone, ignore your colleagues work and make the most having a quiet few days in the office.

Osolea · 18/12/2016 21:40

In the nicest way possible, yabvu. You were quite happy for everyone else to do shorter hours while you were getting to do the same, and presumably you'd wouldn't have minded the extra days if you could have done them too. It comes across like sour grapes to complain that others are getting something that you can't have.

You're pregnant, being unreasonable is to be expected, but I think that claiming some kind of pregnancy discrimination just for continuing to do your regular job would be a bit pathetic.

Original poster

karmacoma1 · 18/12/2016 21:41

Thank you all for your responses.

Regarding the phones, nobody would be there to answer - normally it's a dead time of year. However I am in due to the circumstances, and unfortunately it's my luck that the norm has changed and there's an influx of calls.

The agreement was that our department would not be in office for a week. Now it feels like the goal posts have changed, and I can't help but wonder, if I was in the warehouse with the rest, would we all be allowed to continue doing that this week? Or has my boss just allowed my colleagues to do it because he knows I have to be in office anyway?

OP posts:

SouthWindsWesterly · 18/12/2016 21:43

Actually, I think it would be fairer for the other staff members to yes, do the warehouse but when their half day was up, come back and deal with any enquiries that need to be dealt with that day. Agree with above, this is indirect discrimination as if you weren't pregnant you would be in the warehouse too. Either everyone shuts down at 2 or the others come back and deal with their client account problems/enquiries.

BalloonSlayer · 18/12/2016 21:44

Presumably though the warehouse hours are shorter because the job is physically harder, which you found out because you couldn't do it?

diddl · 18/12/2016 21:46

So does the work really drop or doesn't anyone really know as there is usually no one there??

Why can't the Op do 10-2 in the office if there's so little work?

Osolea · 18/12/2016 21:48

Maybe he has allowed it because there will be someone in the office, but what's so bad about that? You asked to go back to the office and you'd be there next week whatever your colleagues were doing.

What else would you expect to be doing if you're not in the warehouse?

PeteSwotatoes · 18/12/2016 21:54

As PP have said, this is indirect discrimination because of your pregnancy. You should be working the same hours in the office as they work in the warehouse.

witsender · 18/12/2016 21:57

Yanbu. I would ask to do the same hours, or at least only answer my own phone.

SingaSong12 · 18/12/2016 21:58

Do the amount of work you would normally do. Don't stress yourself answering extra phone calls. Only answer other phones if yours is quiet.
It is possible that the others are benefitting from a perk (shorter hours) so possibly you could have some sort of case. If you generally happy with your employer do you want to do something?

You say that the calls are unusual so does that mean that if you were at the warehouse and you didn't answer your own calls there would be a pile of work to do when you got back? Will there be a load of work waiting for your colleagues even if you deal with some of it?

winewolfhowls · 18/12/2016 22:18

If your colleagues are nice, the fact that you being in the office is allowing them shorter hours in this instance , might be remembered in future if for example you need to leave early to see a nativity play etc.

statetrooperstacey · 18/12/2016 22:24

Hmm is it set hours 10-2 or is it 'job and go' ? that makes a big difference. On the info in the op I think uabu. Sour grapes from the pregnant lady.

SienaSun · 18/12/2016 22:32

Presumably though the warehouse hours are shorter because the job is physically harder, which you found out because you couldn't do it

That's totally irrelevant unless you're on a different contract for the days you work in the warehouse.
If I were you I'd expect to do the same hours as everyone else and would talk to the manager again, but it could cause you problems to push the issue, even though you are completely in the right legally.

fiorentina · 18/12/2016 22:39

When I was pregnant everyone at my work apart from me went on a weekend away. I stayed in the office and answered phones etc, I was happy to help them enjoy themselves?

blueshoes · 18/12/2016 23:55

Did you work longer than 9-5 in the office? If not, you are just doing the job you are contractually paid to do within those hours. You are busier with everyone's customer queries but you can only answer one phone call at a time and therefore, it cannot be that stressful.

It does sound like you are sour grapes.

diddl · 19/12/2016 08:25

"you can only answer one phone call at a time and therefore, it cannot be that stressful."

It can be if you are on the phone & the others are ringing!

Can't the others be put to voicemail or something?

estateagentfromhell · 19/12/2016 19:24

Did you work longer than 9-5 in the office? If not, you are just doing the job you are contractually paid to do within those hours.

Again, this is missing the point. Lets assume for a moment that OP is denied a promotion on the grounds of her pregnancy. It makes no difference at all that she is still carrying out her contracted duties, she has been denied a benefit/advantage and is therefore being treated less favourably than her colleagues on the grounds of her pregnancy. Legally speaking, this is just the same.

I'm actually quite surprised that in a forum consisting of (I am assuming) mostly women with DCs that there is such ignorance around what constitutes indirect discrimination. Goes some way towards explaining why it is so prevalent in the workplace

MummyJobo · 20/12/2016 13:32

YABU sorry and comes across very much if I can't benefit nobody should

SienaSun · 20/12/2016 16:08

fucking pregnant women, expecting the same benefits and opportunities as everyone else

AliceInUnderpants · 20/12/2016 19:54

I'm not sure how it is discrimination. OP was given the same opportunity as everyone else, but has opted not to continue. I'm sure many, many pregnant women spanning decades have worked shifts of 4 hours + in factories. I agree it would be discriminatory if this job hadn't been offered to her in the first place, but it was!

estateagentfromhell · 22/12/2016 17:06

Alice What you are describing (OP not being offered the job) is called direct discrimination, which I agree this is not.

It is, however, indirect discrimination, which is a different thing entirely.

Again, I am saddened that people seem unaware of this.

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