Aibu - gross working conditions

[itsasecret1]

Hello all,

I am 31 weeks pregnant. I work in a small clinic (talking therapy) I'm the sole receptionist and secretary for 2 bosses.

We had rats outside the building and inside the walls/floor (its an old building) about a month ago and poison was put down for them. They all died and the smell was awful for weeks, enduring 8 hours a day in dead rat smell did not make me very happy.

Now the smell has faded thankfully but yesterday the whole of my reception room was filled with big gross flies, talking at least 20-30 of them throughout the day. I went out and bought fly spray because it was making me feel very uneasy and they kept landing near my water and on me while I was working.

Have since had to keep spraying fly spray every 1-2 hours to kill all the flies. Have no idea how they're getting in and I have blocked any holes around cables etc. Now I'm worried about the effects of the fly spray in an unventilated room (too cold to have the window open) I'm just fed up with this working environment.

V. tempted to go sick til my maternity leave starts in 3 weeks time. I'm exhausted and stressed and now this. AIBU?

[bakingaddict]

You wouldn't get signed off for the last 3 weeks of pregnancy, your ML would be started early instead. Any illness in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy starts ML

[BlueberryIce]

how can your employers think that’s ok!? Mat leave it is then!!

[BlueberryIce]

“I work in a large Victorian building that often has rats, cockroaches etc inside the building, I have no heating in my office and I have to inhale the fumes from illicit drugs all day every day.”

Do you work in a club PP?

[Autumnchill]

I'm surprised they've put down rat poison themselves. Our regular pest control has had to stop putting it down round our yard at work due to new legislation. Can't recall what it is as its on my list of things to look into but as we haven't had rat activity for quite some time (reports every month that bait traps are untouched) it's low on my list of priorities.

I would definitely ring the EHO and report. Those conditions sound awful for this day and age.

[FruitCider]

Blueberry no, not unless it’s a special club for people sent there by the courts for punishment and rehabilitation?

[QueenArseClangers]

Baking OP is only 31 weeks pregnant now so if she went off sick the ML wouldn't be triggered.
That only applies if off sick 3 weeks before EDD.

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

What's ops age got to with anything.
No one should be expected to work in those conditions. Certainly not a pregnant women.
Surely this goes against all safe guarding procedures.

[Seeingadistance]

A friend of mine, a farmer, was on a course today and had to sit an exam to be certified to use rat bait. As a pp has suggested, they are breaking the law.

[Benedikte2]

OP do you have any sick leave/annual leave owing? If you don't intend to return after maternity leave then use it up now. Even a week off will help with your stress levels. Careful not to take sick leave up until you go on maternity leave. I'm no expert but from something I read here on MN I think a poster said that triggered her maternity leave earlier than she intended.
If you've been using ordinary fly spray from the supermarket then it won't d you or your your baby any harm but you shouldn't have to work in those conditions. Contact the LA and tell them the place is a health hazard and needs inspecting. I personally would not want to undertake any kind of therapy from such unethical professionals as your stingey bosses.

[justilou1]

Can you not report them to the bloody health department? Nobody needs to work in those conditions - it certainly can't be good for you in your condition!