Hi
Our manager is well known for having what we call "one of her days" where she gets picky with us.
I work in a team of 17 in an office and have my own desk. I'm 26 weeks pregnant and already working reduced hours as I've suffered hyperemesis since 6 weeks.
Today, she's announced that none of us are allowed to eat at our desks any longer as one banana skin was left in one of the bins overnight and she's told us about this and it makes her feel sick.
I've explained to her in private that if I don't pick/nibble at dry crackers at my desk I will be sick. It's the only thing that stops it. I'm still not allowed to eat.
She's refused my mat b1 form and wants the original which my midwife told me not to give as they can't issue another one if it gets lost, I offered a photocopy but she wants the original one.
What can I do in this situation???
AIBU?
Pregnant, not allowed to eat at my desk
elm26 · 22/02/2023 10:29
MelchiorsMistress · 22/02/2023 12:11
She sounds ridiculous, but personally I agree with not eating at desks. If that means you need a slight adjustment because of your pregnancy meaning that you need to be allowed to leave your desk for 5 mins every couple of hours them so be it. Biscuits shouldn’t be a problem but by allowing food at desks it means people could eat things that were nosy or smelly and it’s just unprofessional. I work in an environment where you can’t eat whenever you feel like it and pregnant women just have to manage around it. I image it would be worse for them if people were eating stinky food while they were trying to work.
elm26 · 22/02/2023 11:00
Thanks everyone.
She is HR so that's amazing 🫠 I've worked here 4 years and she's still as difficult as ever.
We are not even allowed mints or sweets at desk otherwise I could probably get through on sucking a mint or sherbet lemon.
Aquamarine1029 · 22/02/2023 12:40
I'd completely ignore her. There's not a thing she can do about you eating crackers at your desk.
wildseas · 22/02/2023 12:48
You could just start working in the kitchen 😆
elm26 · 22/02/2023 12:55
I'd just like to add that I'm probably about as aggressive as a goldfish is so actually in shock that she called me aggressive.
I told her it's not aggressive to ask for something to be confirmed in writing, it's a basic right.
elm26 · 22/02/2023 12:55
I'd just like to add that I'm probably about as aggressive as a goldfish is so actually in shock that she called me aggressive.
I told her it's not aggressive to ask for something to be confirmed in writing, it's a basic right.
elm26 · 22/02/2023 12:53
Thanks everyone.
I emailed and asked for her to confirm in writing as pregnancy is a protected characteristic and reasonable adjustments have to be made and I was pulled into her office and called "aggressive" and she backtracked and said I'm allowed my crackers, ginger biscuits and fruit at my desk.
Honestly can't wait to get out of here for maternity but will also miss my team.
The thing is, none of us eat hot or smelly food at desks anyway. We have a kitchen where people eat warmed up chilli con carne etc if they have it. The most people have at the desk is soup in a mug or a sandwich.
We're all really tired of her pettiness.
IMustDoMoreExercise · 22/02/2023 13:01
@elm26
When you have a new starter, make sure you tell them about things like leaving banana skins in the bins (although I would have thougth that most people would realise not to put smelly food in the office bins).
MelchiorsMistress · 22/02/2023 12:11
She sounds ridiculous, but personally I agree with not eating at desks. If that means you need a slight adjustment because of your pregnancy meaning that you need to be allowed to leave your desk for 5 mins every couple of hours them so be it. Biscuits shouldn’t be a problem but by allowing food at desks it means people could eat things that were nosy or smelly and it’s just unprofessional. I work in an environment where you can’t eat whenever you feel like it and pregnant women just have to manage around it. I image it would be worse for them if people were eating stinky food while they were trying to work.
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