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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feeling discriminated against

29 replies

maternitydiscrim · 07/07/2023 17:59

So I announced to my boss I was pregnant as I needed a day off sick a few weeks ago during the early pregnancy days. Due the the nature of my job it meant lots of rescheduling around so they were put out. I admitted it was pregnancy related sickness and then came in the next day even though I still felt quite bad. Since then, I've had loads of issue with my boss micro-managing and making me feel really crap. I had an appraisal just a few months ago which was great and they couldn't be happier with me. Now he's announced to me, verbally, that he feels my performance is lacking and I'm not up to task. I asked for examples and he really didn't give me anything concrete or fair. It feels so incredibly unfair as I work my hardest and go beyond. It's all just started since I've announced my pregnancy so I believe this is pregnancy discrimination. I also think they're trying to manage me out so they can find a replacement as they realise I'll be on maternity leave soon. I've been really stressing about my antenatal appointments and have been arranging them so far so they are not in work hours, except one. He's now turned around and said the time off will be unpaid. Which I'm pretty sure is illegal and have said so. I'm giving plenty of notice and it's a reasonable request. What can I do?? It's causing me such anxiety that I'm constantly worrying about this and it's ruining the experience for me.

OP posts:
TomorrowToday · 09/07/2023 21:34

maternitydiscrim · 09/07/2023 21:15

Yes it hasn't quite escalated just yet. I'm hoping we can sort this internally. Unfortunately this isn't an issue with a manager but with the boss who is the company owner, who is essentially managing all the staff. We don't have a manager right now as the previous one has not been replaced. I don't believe they intend to. We have a massive turn over of staff- which should have been a massive red flag! All issues go through him, we don't even have a HR department. For the time being, I'll make a record of any off behaviour towards me with dates and times. I will record our conversations. I will insist that anything he says is put in writing and if it's not, will put it in writing myself and ask him to confirm or elaborate. Essentially I'm hoping just to keep my head down and carry on until I'm off on maternity leave. Will try and book my appointments in my own time, which I've already been mostly doing. The ones I can't, I will request. And he will need to accept as it's my right. Unfortunately I have a medical condition which means more frequent monitoring so more appointments than the stand pregnancy! But I will get advice from ACAS, PTS etc how I should be handling this and what to do if the situation develops. Thanks all for your insights, it's been helpful.

It's already escalated..... that's not a healthy environment you are in.

Is there a way your pregnancy related stuff can be managed with someone with experience? Might be good for your boss as he doesn't have a clue?

maternitydiscrim · 09/07/2023 22:13

@TomorrowToday I know it's not healthy :( there really isn't anyone else. He's clueless to be honest. Before the manager used to deal with appointments and time off and you know, management stuff. We've had pregnant staff before, although not many, but I'm really baffled how he doesn't know such basic stuff.

OP posts:
TomorrowToday · 09/07/2023 22:46

I used to work in law and my manager knew nothing.... yet was qualified to get legal advise!

Weird.

Perhaps you can schedule a meeting later in the week and book like an hour aside to discuss what you need from the company and have print outs?

maternitydiscrim · 10/07/2023 10:22

@TomorrowToday honestly getting an hour aside with him, which would be during my work hours and they've had to block off some time, would be an issue for him! He would most likely insist it's done in my non working hours or lunch break. Honestly this is how bad it is working for him. I also haven't had a risk assessment done which I'll need to request. It's safe to say there's no way I'd go back after maternity leave Blush

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