i work on my feet all day.. when do i start maternity leave?!

[Bubbless]

HELP!
need to get my MATb1 thingy in soon and i have no idea when i want to start my maternity leave!
i work in a kitchen and am therefore on my feet for 9 hours a day, in a very hot environment.
i dont want to push myself tooo hard, but i also dont want to be twiddling my thumbs at home..

i work in a school so will get christmas hols off, but the schools are breaking up well late this year! (20th dec ish!) and im due 2nd jan...
any advice?!

I'm a primary school teacher so also on my feet much of the time. With dc1 I worked to 36 weeks, I was teaching year 6 and that was SATS week so I really wanted to get them that far. Ideally I would've stopped around 34 weeks I think.
This time I stopped at 29 weeks but only because it was the start of the summer hols- maternity leave officially starts on 4th sept when I'll be 36 weeks

I would advise you to aim for the end of term, have that as your named date. But don't beat yourself up if it gets too much a bit before that- you can always change your mind.

Have you had a risk assessment done? Sounds like the work isnt particularly suitable for preg woman- not that I know the criteria.

You can start mat leave anytime from 11wks before EDD I think but it means losing time at the other end of leave.

Can you do other duties in kitchen? anything sitting down?

I have quite a physical job and am intending to work up to 40 weeks, but it is outside and I can set my own pace. I worked in kitchens a lot and I think I would find that much more difficult than my current job, especially if it's a fairly busy one, and I don't think I'd manage it now (32 weeks).

But, as gingerbread says, you should get your employer to do a risk assessment (and make sure you have some input!) because it doesn't mean you have to start your mat leave earlier than you really want to - it is up to your employer to find you something more suitable to do.

I feel your pain! I work in a pharmacy and although I do have access to a stool, I can't dispense while sitting down! In the last 2 weeks I have found that my legs are giving up after about 2-3 hours (I'm 28 weeks).

I'm working until 35 weeks but the first 2 weeks I'm off is holiday.

I've also been very tired all throughout my pregnancy and finding it hard to fathom that it'll get worse so cannot wait for the next 7 weeks to pass!

As others have said, is there any other jobs you can do sitting down? When I came to sorting out when to go on maternity leave, I thought about how I was feeling at that point and imagined feeling worse and trying to work!

I work on my feet all day too (10 hr days, in a shop) and am planning to work until I'm 36 weeks. My rationale is that I won't have time to get things ready for baby while I'm still at work, so I'd like a few weeks off before the little monster arrives. If I'm struggling to continue work ill talk to my hr dept and leave earlier. However at this stage I'm not planning on going back to work so I'm not bothered about losing out on time with the baby.

Whatever you do just make sure you take care of yourself!

I do the same type of work as you first pregnancy I stopped work at 36 weeks and second pregnancy I stopped work at 39 weeks. it's personal choice I guess mynwooly restrictions where I was not allowed in the freezer alone or allowed to lift heavy objects or go up a ladder. choose a date but see if they will let you change it if you no longer feel able to work / feel you could work an extra week. good luck

You get all your annual leave too, so if your leave starts in the start of the school year, maybe take all four weeks of it in the four weeks before your due date?

mhm- so all in all stopping at 37 weeks isnt that impossible, because work will have to put things in place for me to do it if i want?
basically?
is there anywhere i can see what they have to do, and what they can do if they are a nice company?!
my boss is useless

from the HSE website -

A significant risk has been identified. What action needs to be taken?

"If a significant health and safety risk is identified for a new or expectant mother, which goes beyond the normal level of risk found outside the workplace, you must take the following actions:

Action 1: Temporarily adjust her working conditions and / or working hours; or if that is not possible
Action 2: Offer her suitable alternative work (at the same rate of pay) if available; or if that is not possible
Action 3: Suspend her from work on paid leave for as long as necessary to protect her health and safety, and that of her child.
However, the Employment Rights Act 1996 [4] provides that, where appropriate, suitable alternative work should be offered (on the same terms and conditions) before any suspension from work."

so, yes - they do have to find you something more suitable to do.

Linky: www.hse.gov.uk/mothers/index.htm