Coming out of 12 weeks isolation into final trimester

[Chefwifelife]

I have been working full time from home for the NHS for 9 weeks. When my 12 weeks finishes I’ll be using up AL so working 4 days a week until my last working day on 14th August (due 31st August). My employer has said that as I can do my job from home (as I have already been doing for weeks) they will fully support me to continue to do so until mat leave.

I just wondered if anyone is in the same position and what they’re going to do differently once they finish their 12 weeks isolation. I can go into my team office my that would be at my own discretion.

Im taking 4 weeks annual leave before maternity, which will take me right up to my due date weekend (27th July).
There is a 2/3 week gap between self isolation ending and my leave starting, however we have agreed I can continue working from home to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. I would love to get back into a routine, see my work colleagues and clients but my role is frontline with victims of domestic abuse, and we just don't want to risk anything at this stage.

Congratulations on your pregnancy 🌼
Not long until we meet our little ones!

I'm due 12 Aug and I'm just going to continue to work at home. Currently planning to finish on 31 July and take leave up until due date. My work have been clear I shouldn't go in and continue to work at home. I figure as I'm not travelling I might as well try to work as long as possible, although this may change nearer the time if I'm really struggling.

I would follow whatever the guidance is at that time - at the moment pregnancy means you just need to strictly socially distance, you don't need to shield unless you also have a heart condition, so the 12 week thing is irrelevant. If you're able to work from home then you should, otherwise discuss the options with your employer

I’m due 3rd September and have already had agreement that I will continue to work from home until my maternity leave begins on 21st August.

I’m 28 weeks and WFH at the moment (marketing manager but Zone 1 London so public transport essential for me to get to work). Apparently plans for our return to the office will be outlined in the next week with a view to returning mid-June.

I’ve already decided that there’s no way I’m going back in before starting leave. I’m taking all my annual leave for the month of July so it’s really only 2 weeks I’ll be WFH longer than the others... gearing up for a fight but hoping that I’ll be listened to. I may go in to pick up a couple of things but will drive and possibly make it a Saturday so fewer people around. I think your plan sounds good OP and great news they’re supporting you to stay home.

My bigger concern is that DH’s office is working to a similar timeline but I do not want him working in the office in the lead up to my due date on the basis that I don’t want him risking developing a cough or anything and then missing the birth due to hospital rules. Suspect that will be a harder one to fight - they won’t be keen to have him WFH all July and most of August if others are back from the start of July. Might ask if he’d consider WFH from start August (due date is 13th) but what if baby comes early...

I'm 27+5 and planning to start maternity leave on 1st Aug (ish).
I have plenty of leave so am planning to use that if I have to go back to work to bridge any gap between WFH and maternity starting. I don't intend to physically go back into work now.

Pregnant women were not advised to shield for 12 weeks, only if they have a serious heart condition.
We are advised to follow social distancing rules carefully and to work from home if possible.
So I will continue to do that.

The guidelines for pregnant NHS staff are as follows:

Pregnant women of any gestation should not be required to continue working if this is not supported by the risk assessment, as per the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSW). If a risk assessment indicates that a pregnant woman under 28 weeks’ gestation can continue to work in a patient facing role, and the woman chooses to do so, she should be supported by her employer. Following a risk assessment with their employer and occupational health, pregnant women should only be supported to continue working if the risk assessment advises that it is safe for them to do so. This means that employers must remove any risks (that are greater in the workplace than to what they would be exposed to outside of the workplace), or else they should be offered suitable alternative work.

^ For pregnant women from 28 weeks’ gestation, or with underlying health conditions such as heart or lung disease at any gestation, a more precautionary approach is advised. Women in this category should be recommended to stay at home.

Staff in this risk group who have chosen not to follow government advice and attend the workplace must not be deployed in roles where they are working with patients. Services may want to consider deploying these staff to support other activities such as education or training needs (e.g. in IPC or simulation).^

This is from UNISON so they are the guidelines required for the OP. People in other lines of work may have different guidelines as the risk in their workplaces are less than those working in the NHS

Thanks all for your messages. Lots of people in a similar situation. To complicate things I actually did get a shielding letter but I think it’s incorrect; I think the algorithm must have picked up that I had been seen by obstetric cardiology during my last pregnancy and linked it with the current pregnancy. Looks like I’m home till baby comes.

I’m working from home until I go on maternity leave at the end of June. I do need to go in to the office to finalise a few bits before ML but I’ll go at a weekend when no one else is in.
I’ve been working from home for 9 weeks now so 5 more more shouldn’t make much difference.

I am due 15th Aug and my office won't be reopening before 10th Aug at the earliest, so I'll just be continuing as I am for the duration of the pregnancy now. Planning to work right up to due date, but use AL to take the week before EDD off.

DH is civil service and they're actively encouraging WFH even once offices reopen so I think he'll be staying home too - no point me being careful and him travelling into the centre of town every day to an open plan office of hundreds.

It is a bit depressing that I'll basically be stuck in the house for the next 13 weeks, but what can you do.

I'm not due until November and I highly doubt I will be back in the office. But I can easily work from home so will continue to do that. Though I suffer with HG so may not work much at all sadly. Have only worked 4 weeks so far and am 13 weeks

I'm due back at work in the 15th June as I took the 12 week vulnerable thing to be stay at home😬🤔
I will be 28wks by the time I 'go back'. I'm a teacher and trying to find out where I stand is so difficult. 😔