17 weeks pregnant being monitored at work

[ineedtochangethis18]

Hi, looking for some advice. I recently told work I was pregnant, I had been really sick in the early days and had a few issues with bleeding. I work in a VERY small family business. The dad runs the business and his two sons are our managers. We have no HR etc. I’ve worked here for 2 years. Since I’ve told them I’m pregnant I’ve been told my productivity will be monitored. It’s a very micro managed office, I’ve never been told about any issues about how I work. Last week I was told that I would need to be retrained. I was really upset and told them I would need to go home as i felt stressed. I’ve been told off in front of all my colleagues. I’m now really anxious to go back to work. They have never had anyone go on maternity and I think they’re trying to dismiss me as legally as possible. Where do I go from here?

Firstly, congrats on your pregnancy!

This sounds like a really difficult situation.

Do you think they know the protections you now have legally because you're pregnant? While this is a horrendously bad response morally, they may not realise its legally negative too and maybe some education would help?

I'd consider leaving some leaflets about or having a chat about any adjustments you may need (e.g. risk assessments etc dependent on your role of course)

Good luck!

This is awful. I think there's little you can do if they're choosing to "manage"you out via means unconnected to your pregnancy.
May be beneficial to read up on your rights etc:

m.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=5271

Thank you!I think they may know, I do know they can sack you due to performance. I’m just so worried as I will need the maternity pay. I’m also worried what the stress will do to the baby. I have a meeting tomorrow and will probably just need to decide my options

Hi @ineedtochangethis18, I would say ask for everything in writing. If they are monitoring your performance email them asking for explanation as to why and also what your targets are to ensure that you are achieving them. Join a union now, even though you are in a small business there will be an appropriate one you can join, just google it.

Most importantly, you are protected due to being pregnant, you are allowed time off for sickness and appointments so don't let them push you around on this.

Don't let them upset you, even if they are trying to get you out (which they may not be, you may be overly sensitive at the minute due to hormones!), there is very little they will be able to do between now and the point you go on maternity leave. Just keep your cool, do your work and then they will have no room for manoeuvre.

Side note- even if they sack you, you're entitled to statutory maternity pay as you've worked for the last 17 weeks, so you qualify. It's the same as SMP except the first 6 weeks at 90%.

Do they have an appraisal policy? What are their procedures? Is there a union attached to your industry that you can check with? Everything in writing. Jot down any support you've been given plus the support which has been missing. Read all their policies for missed steps in procedures so you can show it's not being followed legally. It's not pregnancy discrimination, from my understanding, unless they actually withhold am opportunity etc from you for being pregnant. So sorry to hear they are being such prats about it!

Definitely get everything in writing, including their reasons as to why you needed retraining and why your productivity needs to be monitored. If you have meetings with managers take notes and then email them with a summary of what you took from the meeting. Also keep a diary re dates that you told them you are pregnant etc.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Completely agree you should ask for everything in writing. Retain everything they write to you.

You have worked there for two years so you are protected from unfair dismissal. That means you have to fired for a good reason.

The law treats you as being in a protected class because you are pregnant. If you are fired because you are pregnant it is treated as being automatically unfair in law and if you bring the claim to a tribunal, it can order your employer to pay additional compensation (calculated based on your years of employment I think), or you might be able to get your job back but I am not sure under what circumstances the tribunal can order that. Monitoring your productivity because you are pregnant absolutely sounds discriminatory.

This sounds really hard. You’re right to be careful.

I would google unfair dismissal maternity lawyers and call one that offers free initial advice. They can give you information so you get a basic sense of the lay of the land. Don’t feel pressured into instructing them, good lawyers won’t press you to right away.

Also be aware that you have to bring an unfair dismissal claim within six weeks of being terminated so you don’t have much time.

Litigation is also stressful so you may want to consider asking the case to be stayed until after the birth. Not that things will be easy with a baby, but it’s something to be aware of.

If you have a Citizen’s Advice Bureau, you can go to them for advice. You can also google pro bono lawyers in your area to see if there is a free advice clinic.

So sorry your employers are showing such a bad side!

Please join a union although they may not be able to help if this has started already. Anything that happens after joining, they will be able to help with.

Totally agree you need to get everything in writing.

I would send an email along the lines 'further to our discussion on x date, I would like to clarify why I need to retrain and why my performance will be monitored throughout my pregnancy' there will be better ways to word it I'm sure. But you absolutely need to make sure you have a paper trail of everything.

Anytime you have any kind of conversation regarding performance, pregnancy, maternity, always send a follow up email.