Can work force me to do unpaid overtime?

[Jessesgirl13]

I work full time in an office job and I am almost 27 weeks pregnant. Im under consultant led care and now have developed spd.

Over the last week work have been telling us that extra hours are needed to complete a project. I dont mind doing maybe an extra hour but after this im exhausted. Can they force me to do more? The phrases ‘burning the midnight oil’ and ‘clear your diaries’ have been used and typically in the past we’ve had to stay well into the evening/night. None of this is paid overtime and there is no official TOIL.

Just thinking about doing these sorts of hours is stressing me out!

Are you salaried? Hourly paid? What does your contract say? Unless you're under oc for this pregnancy, this is an employment issue and separate from pregnancy (unless they're only asking you because you are pregnant).

They can if it's in your contract that you do hours as needed. It doesn't change because you're pregnant.

Hi OP,

If you’re at management level - we have a line in contracts saying it would reasonable for managers to stay behind to cover etc (worded a lot better I have baby brain!) what are the reasons they want you to stay behind.. unpaid?!

Have you had a risk assessment etc? I wouldn’t say it’s ethical as all employers have a duty of care for all employees. It’s hard to advise tho, as another PP has said it ultimately depends on how many hours you are currently working. I’d double check your contract and staff handbook to see what they’ve put in your contract and book around that. If you find nothing don’t be afraid to challenge and say no x

Sorry ignore my comment around why!

Thanks. Im only asking as Im pregnant and thought that might change things. Im salaried and my contract is one that states ‘meet the needs of the business’ in terms of hours, i guess i’ll just have to hope that they be reasonable with me 😕

Not sure what you mean by ‘oc’ for this pregnancy @physicskate

Occupational health. If they've advised a change (reduction) in your working hours).

Can you work from home at all? If you have a commute then it will free up some time. Less interruptions and the best bit of working at home is lying on the sofa in pj!

Could you speak to your consultant? If you're already struggling you might be able to get a medical note to say you will struggle to work any extra hours.

Not sure what else you could do though, overtime is a tricky subject and the employer holds all the cards.

I was in the same boat as you during my works 'once a year sale'
I was literally exhausted all month, starting at half 7(means getting there at 7:20) and not leaving until 6pm gets tiring when your growing another person!
There was only 2 people in my office who understood and it was only because they were also mothers!
I agree with people when they say 'pregnancy is not an illness' but you dont know how your body will react/cope with it until your in it. And if you find you cant cope speak up!!
My boss is very forgetfull sometimes to the needs/limitations that others may have. So I had to keep reminding him I could no longer yoyo around the office like i used to.
Given that, i was always the first one to be dismissed if things were getting a bit 'too' late.

Just make sure your aware of your bodies limitations and that your managers dont push too hard.
In all honesty, when theyve said "burning the midnight oil" theyve probably just used it as a general term to rally the troops.

If the extra hours would take you under minimum wage you could then insist on being paid to bring you up to minimum wage or keeping your hours low enough to not dip under