So...I'm 31 weeks pregnant with my first. I work as a full time (37.5) GP receptionist, in an overly busy surgery....
I was off sick for nearly a week 5 weeks back with horrendous back ache...this was a result of being short staffed, and having to cover a manic front desk and being the less prescription clerk on a busy Monday...turned out my pelvis had twisted, causing shortening to one leg and a tendon that runs down into groin separating itself 🙈 so I'm sure you can imagine the pain! I paid privately to get fixed as as couldn't bare the pain.
When I went back to work I informed my boss I can no longer work a shift where I cover two positions resulting in me getting up and down like a yoyo as it is too much, and my private Dr states it was continuously stepping to the left to get from one desk to the other that would have caused the issue as putting to much weight through my left leg! I also told them I was unable to sit at one particular desk due to it not being the correct height, so resulted in me hunching to see my screen, leading to back ache. Was told that's ok, and was offered a more supportive chair.
Now, this last week and a half I've been put back in a position of having to cover two stations again, put back on the desk I can't use two days in a row, I'm currently doing three peoples jobs due to one being on maternity, and one not returning from maternity (so these ladies did just the one job each, I'm doing both and my own)
Training a new member of staff as well as seeing to patients at the same time!! Yesterday I got to breaking point, my manger the called me in to have a go that she asked me (whilst on my break) to see me, I didn't go as I forgot to be honest as very overwhelmed...she had a right go, so this made me just unravel and tell her I'm not coping, she is putting too much on me and going against what was agreed. She has never done a risk assessment on me and I've still not had my back to work meeting or risk assessment following a now medical diagnoses weakness which is aggravated by sitting. I get one 39 minute break in a 9.5 hour job.
I don't know what else I can do. I don't want to take early MAT leave as I know that's a good amount of time less with him the other side, but equally we can't live with no money 😩 I also don't know at what point my 8 week pay thing is done to calculate my SMP, so don't want to put that at risk...I can't complain to anyone as her and her husband own/manage/partners of the practice, so there is no one above them....he answer yesterday was basically just leave...and i should be telling her daily if I can't cope....I don't feel I should have too...as as an employee surely once a pregnant lady has told you they can't do something based off of a medical opinion for safety that should be enough!!!
I'm due to start my MaT leave in four weeks.....
What would you do?