Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Shift work while pregnant

12 replies

beewritesx · 07/01/2019 19:45

Hey, this is my first pregnancy and I'm finding juggling work and uni increasingly difficult! I work shift work and have a 37 hour contract on top of sleep ins. I've been so frustrated lately as I start work in the afternoon and am sometimes rota'd until 8pm the following evening (with a sleep in between 11pm and 7am but I'm often up later as there's a monitor linked to one of the rooms so I can hear if anything happens, but they like to watch telly and listen to music at all hours 🙄). Then I'm up at 7 doing personal care, meds etc. The money is good but recently I've felt like a zombie!! I've also had to stay on a couple of times when staff haven't showed up or there's been mistakes in the rota! Managers can't relieve me as they're always short staffed. I haven't even had anything official risk assessment yet, and I work with behavioural issues. I'm also doing a full time open uni course. I'm 26 weeks by the way!! I used to enjoy my job but now I've had enough! I miss my other half and I'm fed up and emotional!

OP posts:
harrypotterfan1604 · 07/01/2019 19:48

You need to be nagging about the risk assessment it’s a legal requirement and it’s vital in your job for a start.
Shift work is tough while pregnant, when are you planning on taking mat leave? Do you have any holidays you can use? I finished at 33 weeks using 4 weeks holiday and then may leave from 37 weeks.

Original poster
beewritesx · 07/01/2019 19:57

Good idea but I don't think they'll let me take holidays as one colleague recently left suddenly, the others going away for a month and the other is on a part time contract. They're desperately underfunded and short staffed so using agency workers who aren't always reliable (hence why I've had to stay on!) I plan on staying until around 33 weeks.

OP posts:
harrypotterfan1604 · 07/01/2019 20:07

Do you have a HR department? Sounds like you need to speak to them

snoopy18 · 07/01/2019 20:18

Defo get a risk assessment - your health and baby is more important than a job. Jobs will come and go your health won’t. Good luck

notthegreatestdancer · 07/01/2019 20:19

If you have front facing role which it would appear you do then you need a risk assessment.

That is nothing to do with working shifts though. It would be the same if you were doing your job 9 to 5 .

I worked shifts when I was pregnant- found it difficult by around 35 weeks but had saved up
Holiday to take.

Pregnancy does not get you out of shift work.

physicskate · 07/01/2019 20:38

Have you signed an exemption from the European working time directive? It looks like your working hours could be in breach... ie you need to have an 11 hour break between your split shift...

Original poster
beewritesx · 07/01/2019 21:47

I'm exempt as I've signed a contract opting out the working time directive as it's 24 hour care.

OP posts:
Original poster
beewritesx · 07/01/2019 21:52

I don't want to get out of doing shift work, but more than 24 hrs is taking the mick :) yes I get unofficial breaks in between because of the nature of the job but I still have to be on my guard.

OP posts:
Lozxx · 07/01/2019 21:56

I did shift work and once I fell pregnant with my son I stopped doing over nights as I wasn't allowed due to risk assessments. I would do 12 hour shifts until 35 weeks. I would definitely take it higher because you certainly shouldn't be working as much. There are laws and rules

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 07/01/2019 21:59

You need to be nagging about the risk assessment- your employer is leaving themselves wide open by not completing one, especially given the nature of your job. That’s not something for you to worry about, but sitting down with HR will give you an opening to discuss the issues.

It’s a totally reasonable adjustment to arrange your shift pattern so you have longer breaks in between shifts. I know you say that your place is short staffed, but you’re 26 weeks pregnant and I’m assuming your employer has had 3 months plus to make sure there’s enough cover for each shift. Plus, you’ll be heading off on maternity leave in 10-13 weeks, so they can’t rely on you forever!

lelrx · 07/01/2019 22:04

Jobs like this already know how important risk assessments are because all service users have to have them in place. Yours should have been done a long time ago! X

lelrx · 07/01/2019 22:05

Also in regards to taking holiday, you could use any remaining holiday before you plan to go off and realistically they can't refuse you because if its after 29 weeks you could choose to do so anyway which would leave them short so either way they will still have to solve the problem X

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread