Is this a reasonable adjustment?

[questionaboutreasonableadjustments]

Wondering what Mumsnets thoughts are.

I’m due to go on maternity leave soon. I have 3 weeks left at work. I have bad PGP but other than that I am fine. The PGP plus size of bump and my short legs mean driving is not comfortable and to be fair, probably not safe. Bump rests against the wheel and getting in and out of the car hurts. It’s more comfortable as the passenger - slightly. I do a lot of driving at work for 2 days a week, usually at least 2-3 hours in the car on both of these days. The other 2 days I WFH but one day is from the office (commuting in via train, so still involves a drive to the station and back).

I work from home about 40% of the time anyway but don’t know if it is reasonable to request that I do almost exclusively for the last 3 weeks, barring one day a week where I will go into the office when I can get a lift there and back. This day may change every week as my lift would be coming from DH who works shifts.

Does this sound reasonable? I’ve spoken to my friend who thinks most employers would want my usual work to be done or for me to start maternity leave early but I’m really desperate to hang on for as long as I can for the sake of enough time off at the other end.

I would absolutely agree to that without a doubt.

In my head, I discount the last month of pregnancy. It's at the stage where people aren't sleeping well and are exhausted.

If I was offered 3 weeks WHF rather than 3 weeks on sick leave, I would take it. Any manager would be foolish not too.

Very reasonable

It wouldn't be sick leave. It would trigger the start of maternity.

Have you had a pregnancy risk assessment? This should be reviewed regularly and adjustments made as your pregnancy progresses.

Absolutely fair.

Apologies, I wasn't aware it was different in the UK.

I had terrible PGP, could barely walk and all sitting and standing positions caused pain after a few minutes. My GP wrote a fit note saying I could work but couldn’t travel, so I wfh from about 34 weeks.

Absolutely reasonable.
The work can be done from home & you're set up to do so.
It's unsafe for you to drive.
You'll still be productive for the company.

No brainer.

I'd ask not to come in at all TBH, hold that up your sleeve as a bargaining chip.

More than reasonable, especially for the safety of both yourself as well as your unborn child.

Yes

Yes

I had a similar thing and I had quite a long commute but my (horrible) manager was being funny about it even though my job could be done from home so I got a note from the GP. She was still funny about it but 🤷

Completely reasonable. I’d agree to that with no problem

It’s completely reasonable to ask if it’s not going to make any change to the work you normally do, but we don’t know your employer and by asking you would run the risk of them asking you to go one maternity leave.

I think it absolutely is and I'd agree to it without hesitation. I'd tell you not to go to any great efforts to come in for that 1 day a week either.

I'd rather have you working in a capacity you can manage, and then benefit from a good handover, than lose you unexpectedly.

Not strictly true. Sick leave can trigger the start of mat leave if the company choose to force it, but otherwise sick leave is no different than at any other time.

It's a reasonable request, ask for a risk assessment to be done and request it that way 💐

Thanks all xx

Sick leave for pregnancy related reasons in the last four weeks before due date does trigger maternity leave starting, so it depends on whether that point has been reached.

Many employers would be absolutely fine about making the adjustment you suggest, particularly if they don't yet have maternity cover arrangements in place. If you can do productive work, they'll probably say yes. It might be different if you can't do the main/only thing they employ you for and they would need to bring in maternity cover earlier.

The other possibility they might suggest would be a colleague giving you a lift, or them subsidising a taxi. Think about where you stand on that, as you've said that even being a passenger is fairly uncomfortable.

I'm a manager and would have no problem approving it. I'd likely ask you to come in one last time if you're able just to tidy up your desk to have it ready for your cover but would also be happy to do that myself with your permission.

Again. Not quite. It is very much at the discretion of the employer who can delay the start of mat leave if the mother wishes to do so until the baby is born or an agreed date in-between.

I've done this before for members of my teams, quite legitimately.

Just ask, I doubt it will be an issue if you are already partly working from home. I had mine before covid and the work from home revolution. With ds1 I couldn't see to get out of the work car park onto the main road from 36 weeks, so that is when leave started. I knew I wasn't going to term by then, so was glad of a couple of weeks rest. If it was now and I had a standard pregnancy I would totally ask and have seen others at my work do exactly that.

Totally reasonable