AIBU to tell work I won't go to Australia?

[Corporatepreggolady]

Hi there,

First time posting so would love any thoughts. I'm very early pregnant (yay!) but have a work trip to Australia scheduled for September, when I'll be 21 weeks.

I know that's below the official no go threshold, so technically there may be no health issues provided I move around to avoid deep vein thrombosis.

But... it would still mean 24 hours of flying, awful jetlag, being away from DP and a VERY intense work week on the other side of leading workshops when I land.

AIBU to ask work to find someone else for this trip?

Not unreasonable at all ...you don't know how your pregnancy will progress.

I think more importantly you may be fine if a good pregnancy but may not be fine if not, and pulling out last minute would be worse- perhaps frame it like that - you wouldn’t want to let them down

of course it’s okay to ask - why wouldn’t you ask? Have you signed a contract to say you must go or must do the work that you’d do when you’d get there?

You may find when they risk assess you when you tell them you're pregnant (I'm assuming you've not told them yet), that they may decide you shouldn't travel anyway.

I don't think you're unreasonable though.

I used to fly a lot while pregnant but I wouldn't have gone to Australia. Mine were short European flights.

I’ve said YANBU. If for some reason you do end up going it would have to be business class on a proper airline (ie complete flat bed). Not premium economy - business. A return business class airfare is around GB£14k at those dates so that may force the issue!

I had a similar dilemma when I was pregnant. Not as big a trip but I just didn’t want to go. Turns out the company’s insurance wouldn’t cover me and so the company didn’t want me to go after all. Can’t remember how many weeks I was, but it was well before the airline cut off date for travel. Perhaps worth finding out and if the insurance won’t cover you it may give you an easy excuse not to go…

Yanbu. My first pregnancy i was still in the throes of HG at 21 weeks and hardly able to keep anything down. Actually, flew in my second pregnancy at around 19w and threw up quite a lot that day too even though I didn't have HG - think it was stress and tiredness making morning sickness worse. Anyway, no, I certainly wouldn't do it.

Regardless of the pregnancy issues it’s still just a preference you have, and it’s okay to express your preferences and ask if they can be met

Depends on your health at the time and your contract.
YANBU to think it might be better not to.
You should talk to them so they can risk assess you.

What’s the context of the work trip?

If it’s just meetings would you be able to join via Teams/Zoom (around 8pm/9pm your time and the AM in Aus)

I'm not sure, unless there's medical reason not to fly then it's just your preference which they may not agree with, is there an obvious person to go instead of you? I did multiple business trips pregnant, admittedly not as far (USA) but it was my job and I did was I was paid to do

Being pregnant - definitely not being unreasonable to say you won't be going. As PP have said, your company's insurance may not cover you anyway.

Missing your DP - definitely being unreasonable, and if you were working for me I'd take a very dim view of that!

I'd have been happy to go to Australia at 21 weeks tbh. I did my last long haul flights at 28 weeks and had flown all through pregnancy. I would have an overnight at the airport hotel in Singapore which I don't usually though, both ways so you can put your legs up properly.
See how things go, talk about the risk assessment when appropriate, and of course check fully about your corporate travel insurance coverage.

Wow, thanks everyone. Really helpful replies!

Thanks @Remembertotakeabreak@Remembertotakeabreak

Gah posted too soon, sorry! As you've said, my contract does include overseas travel with work.

But then as others have said (thank you @PAFMO and @NoWordForFluffy@NoWordForFluffy

I haven't been risk assessed yet, so health comes before contract.

Gosh really struggling with tagging people without sending early! Sorry - I'm new here! 🤦‍♀️

Anyway, thanks so much all for your thoughts and perspectives. Really appreciated. I'll talk to my workplace and let you know what they say!

Please don't mention the fact you'd miss your partner! It really won't do you any good.

You can ask but I wouldn't have. You might be fine when you get there. 21 weeks isn't very pregnant. I flew to the Maldives in economy at about 24 weeks and it was fine. I also flew to various places for work, including the US for an intense week of work.

I'd think your pregnancy risk assessment will have you grounded or on short haul anyway OPM you might not have wanted to tell them this early, but I would

Is it Melbourne? Can I go? Pleeeease

As someone who regularly flies back to the uk from Australia, you are definitely not being unreasonable. I did it last time (mum’s funeral) at 35 weeks and it was hell. Best wishes with the pregnancy :-)

Surely it’s best you tell then now. You have no idea how your pregnancy will progress and whether you would be able to travel. If they know now then they can sort someone else to do with plenty of notice, rather than last minute.

I’d definitely speak to them about it but frame it as more of a business risk. So raise the issues that people have raised here like insurance, risk assessment, possibility of needing to pull out last minute

Then you’ll look like a team player and a forward planner.

Congrats on your pregnancy

I wouldn't do that trip for a week even if I wasn't pregnant. Not unless they stumped up for Business Class.

Honestly - I had to travel Aus - UK for a 10 day trip and the jet lag was freaking horrendous. Never, ever again. My minimum trip is now 4 weeks.