Asking for reduced working hours

[Croptop]

I am 20 weeks pregnant and I have been suffering with extreme tiredness throughout my pregnancy so far. I have a very busy and rather stressful job and I work between 47 and 60 hours a week and often work 9 days in a row without a day off. I have about 20 minutes as a lunch break and nothing else besides. My job is largely office based so its not tough in a physical way but it is incredibly busy and I use a computer all day long.
The stress and exhaustion seem to exacerbate one another so I decided to ask my boss to consider reducing my working day by one hr. The response was worse than I had feared with my boss actually asking me "what's in it for me?"! I explained my position and that with a little flexibility I will hopefully be able to work later into my pregnancy which will be benefit the company. He also said that as far as he can see he has had to pay out enough already... He hasn't paid me an extra penny although he has had to recruit someone to cover my maternity leave but she isn't starting until shortly before my due date and I get no company maternity pay other than the statutory entitlement so I fail to see how my pregnancy is costing the company. I just wondered if anyone could offer some advice on what I should do next and any tips from people who have been in a similar position would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I would seek legal advice that sounds odd.

Are you a member of a trade union that you could get advice from? Have you waived your rights under the working time directive? Your employer is obliged to carry out a risk assessment now that they know you are pregnant. You should most definitely seek professional advice. Your boss sounds awful.

Are these contracted hours or just what is expected? If not contracted you don't need to ask permission.
Have they done a risk assessment?

Thanks for the responses. Im not in a union, it's a small company with 8 employees and I'm the first first pregnant employee they have ever had. The hours are my contracted hours but I havn't opted out of the woring time directive. They haven't carried out a risk assessment and they have known about my pregnancy since week 7!

Are you in UK? Because I'm pretty sure what they are doing is illegal. You need a risk assessment done by now. And even though you are contracted those hours the normal working week is about 40 hrs so they can't force you to work longer. Do you get paid for all those extra hours?
If you get paid sick pay I would take the time off sick until mat leave starts.
They are not allowed to discriminate because you are pregnant.

Thanks, yes Im in the UK. I get paid a salary as opposed to an hourly rate and my contract only offers statutory sick pay. The sad thing is that I want to continue woring but not under these conditions, I feel like they are backing me into a corner...

Other posters are correct regarding risk assessment - you should have had one done.

Do make sure you put your pregnancy in writing to your employer a.s.a.p. if you haven't done so, and get a MATB1 form for your maternity pay.

If I were you I'd be tempted to go the route of visiting your GP, and telling them how exhausted you are, employer unsympathetic etc. They can give you a sick form (I forget what it is called), basically states that you need adjustments made in order to continue working, and if they can't make those adjustments then they have to sign you off sick. I know you say you only get statutory sick pay - is it an option for you financially to be signed off sick if they say the adjustments can't be made?

Also take advice about how many hours you are working - sounds shady legally (on your employer's part).

Best of luck, and remember, you must put your health first. If you continue as you are you'll just end up being signed off sick through exhaustion. Best to try and tackle it before it gets to that stage.

Also when your boss asks 'what's in it for me?', the answer to that is that you are able to keep working, instead of them having to find a replacement at short notice when you are signed off sick.

Any possibility of any time working from home?

Hi Crop. You need to check out your contract and look at the rules regarding working time in employment law - these are the working time regulations. From what you've said it sounds like your employer may be in breach of the regs. I agree you should speak to your GP about your situation at work.

You entitled to a risk assessment and are protected by law from the moment you notified your employer go your pg. If an employer behaves unreasonably then you could have a case of discrimination. Here is a useful leaflet outlining different examples, it also has useful contacts such as ACAS and Maternity Action who will answer your queries about what you can and cannot ask or in terms of hours.

www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/pregnancydiscrimination.pdf

Would echo what Soup says. Your contract should set out the number of hours you are required to do and there should also be arrangements for additional hours. Under the Working Time Directive you cannot be made to work any longer than 48 hours per week though as mentioned you can waive that right. Even if you have waived it you can revert back to the 48 hour maximum at any time. There are also provisions under the WTD for breaks including rest days.

Your employer also has a duty of care towards you as a pregnant employee.

If I were you I'd join a union. Even if it's not recognised you have a right to representation on an individual issue and most unions will give you legal advice and representation as well.

I'd speak to your doctor and get their backing that you need to reduce your hours. Surely your company will pay attention to that?

The guy is acting both illegally and shittily. Could you get a doctors note that says you need to reduce your hours.