To stop work so early??

[Scotabroad24]

Shamelessly posting here for traffic, although aware this might be better on the pregnancy board.

A little bit of back story- I live abroad in an EU country and work in a heavily populated tourist area. I'm a restaurant manager of a 'family run' restaurant and currently 31 weeks pregnant. Another point to add is no risk assessment has been done for my pregnancy, or duties lightened despite me warning my boss I can't keep working the way I am just now.
Due to covid the restaurant basically runs on skeleton staff with 3 chefs, and 2 table staff, my colleague and I.
This was fine through summer months when I was in my second trimester, since I've been about 28 weeks I've really been struggling. I do the majority of the running of the restaurant in terms of shopping admin duties etc. I also work 6 days a week as is standard here. The owner generally isn't anywhere to be seen and even if she does come in, she won't 'work' in terms of serving tables lifting plates etc.

Now to the point.... I'm huge, tired, and suffering horrendously with back and rib pain. Most nights when I get home I'm physically sick from the demands of working a long shift on my feet in the heat and lifting heavy plates. I'm very lucky in that my colleague tries to take the majority of the heavy work from me, but she is sick and will be off for at the least the next 4/5 days. The owner has found a friend of hers willing to step in, but she can only start mid shift and obviously isn't trained. I have been asking her for months to employ more staff and it hasn't been done. I'm genuinely worried I'm going to injure myself or cause issues with my pregnancy as I will be doing the majority by myself and it's fast paced and demanding.
So AIBU to request that we close for a couple of days?

YABU- yes just get on with it
YANBU - it's a reasonable request and the owner hasn't taken responsibility.

It’s a totally reasonable request. I’ve worked hospitality whilst heavily pregnant and it’s utter shite.

The owner should have done a risk assessment and also should have a contingency plan.

It’s hard being pregnant and it’s impossible for someone to know how you’re feeling. My first pregnancy was horrible and I felt like crap most of the time. With SPD towards the end it was unbearable. I was still working nights at 38 weeks and it was a killer. 2nd pregnancy was a breeze and I was pregnant again 4 months after giving birth. That pregnancy was easy too.

I think it’s reasonable to ask the owner to cut you some slack. They will have to sort something soon anyway when you have the baby.

Good luck and I hope things work out. X

Why not.

As my mum us very fond of telling anyone who will listen, in the early 70s when she had me, it was compulsory to stop your teaching job 12 weeks before you were due, so around 28 weeks.

Only you know how tired you get but if you feel you need to do less it can be your bodies way of making you slow down. Take maternity leave early.

@Sexnotgender

It’s a totally reasonable request. I’ve worked hospitality whilst heavily pregnant and it’s utter shite.

The owner should have done a risk assessment and also should have a contingency plan.

I haven't wanted to put too much detail but the owner doesn't really care about her business. She's been happy to sit at home for 5+years and let me do it all. She's known since April that I'm pregnant and I've been going on about needing to staff to cover. Luckily for her out of season it's really quiet so once I'm off with baby she can run on 1 waitress.

I feel like I'm letting the staff down if I say something, as closing means they will lose out on their tips which we all rely on here

I think you need to have a frank discussion with her and tell her all of this and then decide.

For example, could you keep doing the admin/non physical stuff and the friend steps in to do the physical stuff?

Thank you all. My body is definitely telling me to slow down, I'm in tears most days before I go because I know an hour or two in and I feel like I can't cope. I can barely walk by the time we close most nights. I just can't seem to get the owner to take on any responsibility and I feel like I'm letting the staff down if I ask we close due to my colleagues sickness the next few days

In my area of work in the UK all staff > 28 weeks are working from home during Covid. So for that reason alone YANBU. YANBU for all the other reasons you mention too - look after yourself and your baby

@QuestionableMouse

I think you need to have a frank discussion with her and tell her all of this and then decide.

For example, could you keep doing the admin/non physical stuff and the friend steps in to do the physical stuff?

Yes although we are still in busy (ish due to covid) season and to run on 1 waitress just now is pretty impossible. I really need another full time staff member, but owner just isn't bothered and doesn't want to pay someone to be there. But she also doesn't want to pick up the slack. I've put up with it for years and ran the place alone so kind of made a rod for my own back

Sounds like you're the manager in everything but name so maybe write out an advert and show it to her, giving her the choice to hire someone new or close.

Do you have a midwife or doctor who can write you a sick note? Seeing something official might just be the poke she needs.

Omg you poor thing! I’m only 18 weeks and I’m so tired and I work in an office and sit down all day and I’m finding that hard enough!!

Your baby And your health is definitely more important Right now I’d definitely either go off sock or start mat leave early

OP, I understand you don't want to say which country you're in but if it's Spain are you aware you can get signed off on full pay if you're job is considered a risk to your pregnancy? Not by the doctor, in fact, it's unrelated to (and incompatible with) being signed off for illness. Thr government pays so your employer wouldn't be out of pocket.

If that's where you are, feel free to PM me and I'll send details. I was signed off from 28 weeks.

*your job

@HomesUnderTheSpanner

OP, I understand you don't want to say which country you're in but if it's Spain are you aware you can get signed off on full pay if you're job is considered a risk to your pregnancy? Not by the doctor, in fact, it's unrelated to (and incompatible with) being signed off for illness. Thr government pays so your employer wouldn't be out of pocket.

If that's where you are, feel free to PM me and I'll send details. I was signed off from 28 weeks.

Unfortunately not Spain but thank you. My only options here are to get signed off by the doctor for which I will only receive minimum wage, or to work up until 30 days before my due date to officially begin maternity leave.