Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Weekend working when heavily pregnant

40 replies

Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 19:36

Not sure if IABU about this.

Without being too outing I work in head office for a large retailer and the weekends running up to Christmas are obviously the busiest. There has always been a rota for staff in my department to work a few weekend hours sending reports and checking in on sales etc. This is on top of working longer hours during the week, mostly unofficially, but the role is salaried so I kind of see it as part of my job.

This year I will be 36 - 38 pregnant on the key weekend working periods, I don’t plan to start mat leave until 38 weeks which my management are pleased about as they don’t have cover. I’m already finding full time work a struggle especially as I have young DCs already. I’ve been rota’d in for weekend cover as usual on these weeks.

WIBU to say I’m not doing it? I’m so exhausted currently from working all week that I use the weekends to rest where I can. My contract says that extra work may be required sometimes but should they make an exception for this late stage of pregnancy?

OP posts:
khaa2091 · 26/10/2025 19:38

If you are over 36 weeks and announce that you do not feel able to fulfil your contractual requirement, you will be told to start mat leave.

Sillysoggyspaniel · 26/10/2025 19:38

I think if it's an expected part of your job, and it sounds like it's sat down rather than standing at the tills so they don't need to make adjustments, then you'll either have to go on maternity leave earlier or do the shifts. You could speak to them and see what they prefer?

Coffeefordays · 26/10/2025 19:38

Although I understand what you're saying, you are being unreasonable. Your colleagues shouldn't have to do more.

MidnightPatrol · 26/10/2025 19:39

I think that’s entirely reasonable - and if telling them now, gives them plenty of time to find an alternative.

Not worth risking your health over when they can probably find an alternative solution.

Working potentially 7 days a week in your third trimester seems a big ask.

MatildaTheCat · 26/10/2025 19:41

Can you compromise and say you’ll do full time hours but they will need to be part of your working week not with additional weekend work?

Equally you can also say you have discussed this with your midwife who has advised that you rest at the weekends so unfortunately this year this arrangement won’t be possible.

Original poster
Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 19:43

It’s not really shift work like customer service etc, I work in quite a niche part of sales reporting so the arrangement is normally that unofficially we’d take this time back in January when it’s quieter, as we are all salaried and don’t get ‘overtime’. But obviously I’ll be on maternity leave in January.

OP posts:
NotEnoughKnittingTime · 26/10/2025 19:44

I had to work in that sort of area pregnant as do many others. You might be better off going on maternity leave then.

BabyToothbrush · 26/10/2025 19:45

I don't think it's unreasonable particulary with your update. I'd have the conversation and see how it goes.

That being said this really depends on whether your employer and/or line manager is reasonable or not. If they're not then they could just insist and your options are to either to do it or go on leave earlier really. As I'm presuming it's not possible to take annual leave during those weeks either?

Original poster
Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 19:48

BabyToothbrush · 26/10/2025 19:45

I don't think it's unreasonable particulary with your update. I'd have the conversation and see how it goes.

That being said this really depends on whether your employer and/or line manager is reasonable or not. If they're not then they could just insist and your options are to either to do it or go on leave earlier really. As I'm presuming it's not possible to take annual leave during those weeks either?

No annual leave isn’t allowed to be taken at all in mid Nov/Dec, which is also difficult. In previous years on working days I’ve worked very long days as well as the weekend work and I’m not sure I can manage it this year. But seems unfair to have to start mat leave early just because of the way my due date falls.

OP posts:
Laf90 · 26/10/2025 20:02

I'm sure you've got the upper hand here if they are desperate for you I'm sure they'd rather have you in the week and off at the weekends than not have you at all and if you can't claim back the time off in January it seems fair that you don't do it. I'd send them an email and let them know your not happy to do it and leave the ball in their court

Westun · 26/10/2025 20:06

Can you ask to take the time back the week following the weekend work? So, if you were to work four hours on the Saturday either start later/ finish earlier a few days that week which might be more agreeable to them or take the half day back.

Zempy · 26/10/2025 20:08

I would explain to them that if they want me to continue working to 38 weeks, I won’t be doing any weekend work (unless my usual working week is adjusted accordingly)

If they won’t agree to exclude you from the weekend working rota, you may find you have to start ML sooner than planned.

Bluespottedfrog · 26/10/2025 20:08

Would you be covering the rota alone? Or would there be a problem if baby came early and you didn't do your shifts? I was told from 37 week onwards is not considered early.

Can you play it that you wouldn't want to leave them in the lurch if you go onto labour?

ToKittyornottoKitty · 26/10/2025 20:18

I’d say you will onto do it if you can take that time back during the same working week

Original poster
Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 20:19

Bluespottedfrog · 26/10/2025 20:08

Would you be covering the rota alone? Or would there be a problem if baby came early and you didn't do your shifts? I was told from 37 week onwards is not considered early.

Can you play it that you wouldn't want to leave them in the lurch if you go onto labour?

They don’t have a maternity cover due to recruitment freeze until 2026 so my colleagues would have to cover my weekends, there are a few of us.

It might work to ask to take the time back during the week but I just can’t see it happening. Last year I was regularly logging on at 7am, off at 7pm and sporadically checking in on bits in the evenings.

OP posts:
FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 20:21

I think it would be considered as you saying you are not fit for work and at that gestation, it would force your maternity leave to start immediately.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 26/10/2025 20:22

Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 20:19

They don’t have a maternity cover due to recruitment freeze until 2026 so my colleagues would have to cover my weekends, there are a few of us.

It might work to ask to take the time back during the week but I just can’t see it happening. Last year I was regularly logging on at 7am, off at 7pm and sporadically checking in on bits in the evenings.

Show quote history

But they aren’t paying you for it, and you are tired, so stop doing it. They will survive perfectly fine without you in January so they can survive perfectly well without you doing unpaid evening overtime now. Remember OP everybody is replaceable at work.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 26/10/2025 20:23

FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 20:21

I think it would be considered as you saying you are not fit for work and at that gestation, it would force your maternity leave to start immediately.

They can’t force her to start maternity leave for saying no to unpaid overtime.

Acafan · 26/10/2025 20:24

If you're willing to follow through on it if they say no, you could try saying that it's either that you're exempted from weekend working or you'll need to start mat leave at 35/6 weeks pregnant. You're taking the risk that they don't want to replace you before Xmas and think that some work from you is better than none.

FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 20:25

ToKittyornottoKitty · 26/10/2025 20:23

They can’t force her to start maternity leave for saying no to unpaid overtime.

Show quote history

My contract says that extra work may be required

ToKittyornottoKitty · 26/10/2025 20:28

FuzzyWolf · 26/10/2025 20:25

My contract says that extra work may be required

Show quote history

Yes I can read. It doesn’t mean they can force someone onto maternity leave for not doing it, thankfully women are more protected than that whilst pregnant in this country.

FunnyOrca · 26/10/2025 20:29

my work also has unofficial weekend time based on staff “willingness” and I was expected to take my turn at 36 weeks pregnant. I only got through it knowing I was about to have a year away 😂

Nearly50omg · 26/10/2025 20:36

Those hours are illegal for a start!!!

you need to tell them now you won’t be putting your babies health and life at risk and yours too and won’t be working any more unpaid weekends!! They are taking the piss expecting you to work unpaid and literally into the ground and being so exhausted and THEN have a baby and still have other children to look after!

please put yourself and your family first and make it clear to them that this is what you are doing

Jellybunny56 · 26/10/2025 20:40

Unless you’d be prepared to start your maternity leave early I would be careful trying this. It sounds as though this is part of your job and either you’re capable of continuing to work or you’re not- you can’t just pick the bits you fancy doing. Sympathy though as I’m 38 weeks and shattered, but not prepared to start my leave yet!

Original poster
Kitkat901 · 26/10/2025 20:44

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 26/10/2025 19:44

I had to work in that sort of area pregnant as do many others. You might be better off going on maternity leave then.

It’s not me backing out of weekend shifts because I’m pregnant, it’s asking not to be included for unpaid overtime when I’ve already worked more than a full working week.

OP posts: