What would you do. Re when to go on maternity in this situation? Advice needed before I go to work tomorrow

[Mum2oneds]

Right. I'll keep is as straight as I can.
So I'm 16 weeks. Due. 7 March.
I work for large retailer. Who used be be good but now treat staff soo bad.
I'm in the busiest hands on department.
They often ignore my risk assessment and I am. High risk for two reason. . Example of them ignoring is Today they say I know you shouldn't be doing xxx job but there's no one else and it only 15 min I'm sure you'll be fine
Also I know you shouldn't do xx job for too long but we have sickness so you'll have to cover. Now I haven't told dp as he will go spare, as in he'd ring them and I'd probably lose my job lol.
Now obvs at Xmas it's manic. It's a flagship store so mega busy.
I really DON'T want to go back after mat leave and hope to find a job around Sept with SIL . Which would mean I could leave in dec and would time right. .. But would mean going back to work when baby is 6m old. And if that don't plan out then I have to go back to where I am..
I'm in the dilemma that I feel I'd waste 2.5 months prior to baby coming being off. But also I really hate, I mean properly hate my job and don't think I could mentally and physically cope with being there at Xmas. I could go on another dept but I don't know anyone in the re or how they 100% work so would feel daft.. I have to let th em know tomorrow roughly as would mean re jigging my holidays that I have booked in the new yr to before Xmas. There's also a high probability that they will want me to work boxing day which this yr my DS is with his dad so my 'xmas' with him will be boxing day so certainly don't want to work it. Or have the stress I may be asked early Dec to do it.
I'm so confused and in Two minds what to do:(

I guess there's a financial element in your decision?

If you absolutely cannot afford to extend your time away from work then I would carry on but put in writing to HR the breaches to your risk assessment and make it clear you will no longer do the extra tasks that are unsafe. Then speak to your midwife by the run up to Xmas maybe it would benefit your health to be signed off work by your GP??? Not on mat leave but legitimately off sick.

If there's a chance you could scrimp and save and take more time with your baby then just start your mat leave at the earliest opportunity and resign when it's up - unless you'd be in breach of mat leave policy and have to return for a period of time otherwise pay back your mat pay?

Don't underestimate the importance to your baby of a calm (as possible ) pregnancy.

We all need to be much kinder to pregnant women and you also shouldn't feel guilty about being kind to yourself.

I get 14, weeks full pay. And rest smp. Which as only part time. I only lose 60 a month so it's really no loss financially.

I worry as used to have severe depression and I will discuss all with midwife. I just need to sort holidays with work tomorrow. So need to think of rough time to want to go on leave.

It's not fair of them to make you waste your leave with your baby because of their negligence, your child is much more important.

I would simply explain to them (again, and again if necessary) that you have a high risk pregnancy, your risk assessment has deemed you unfit to do certain tasks, you have spoken to your doctor/MW (doesn't have to be true) and you are not able to do these tasks.

They literally cannot legally have a problem with this; if they kick up a fuss take it higher.

Actually re-reading your post I would want to go too.

I was fed up of my job (finance related so not physically stressful though) and moved my mat leave right forward to 30 weeks, booked 2 weeks annual leave before that and ended up being signed off for a couple of weeks before that. So I've been off since 26 weeks and it's been bliss, spending time with my toddler etc. For me though I get six months full pay and only have to go back part time so it wasn't an issue for me to leave earlier. Hope you decide to leave and relax, the stress employers can put on pregnant women is ridiculous and so unfair.

Thank you.
I tell them every day without t fail of the things they are making me do. They just don't listen. I have e shown them my notes with my high risks all I get is were short staffed. They tried today and I said no, they said we'll there's not much choice. So I said I'll go home then. That choice soon changed. Lol..
Well I have told them I'm going before Xmas. And t he weight of that off my shoulders is already amazing. Bizarre I know.

Congratulations OP, so glad you stood up for yourself and can relax, must be such a good feeling! Enjoy your pregnancy :)