Working from home

[Miss2820]

Hi ladies

So I’m working from home due to covid two days a week my work haven’t given me no desk chair etc I’m nearly 16 weeks really struggling yesterday I had really bad back pain that I was curled up in bed crying.. I’ve been told by my work they haven’t got chairs or desks in stock etc I explained to my manager that I can’t b sitting on the sofa working with pillows to support my back for hours or end..otherwise I would be in no option to go drs and get signed off with back pain.. which is something I want to avoid.. I’m quite big for 16 weeks I was showing from week 7 and I am already struggling.. Especially with the heat..

Can my company do this to me as I’m pregnant ?

I'm working from home too - 5 days a week and my office haven't given me any equipment other than my laptop. I sit on the sofa mostly as I find it most comfy to be honest.

If it's a big problem can you buy yourself an office chair so you have what you need/want? If not make sure you're regularly getting up and moving about rather than sitting in one position too long! Hope the pain eases soon.

I am most 28 weeks pregnant, and starting to get back and pelvic pain now when sitting on anything for too long. Was working from home, then came back to the office, and now will be working from home again.
I used to either work at a kitchen table when WFH, and now I've ordered a birthing ball to sit on instead of a chair.
I am not expecting my employer to provide any of the office furniture for my home.
I suggest you contact your midwife as they can refer you for physio (virtual at the moment) to help deal with the back pain.

Op I was working from home from mid March until I had my baby middle of May. I didn't get anything like office furniture and as far as I know no one else who's wfh has been provided with it. I sat at the table with a proper chair. Sitting on the sofa is the worst thing for a back. Birth ball would be loads better. If you need a desk and chair think you'll have to provide your own I'm afraid x

I've just given birth (Saturday) and finished for mat leave on the Friday and I was working from home since March.

Work didn't provide anything aside from my laptop and screen. As I have to use 2 screens for my job i didn't have the flexibility of being able to work on the sofa etc but I found my birthing ball very comfortable. Even if just for an hour here and there - it was only b £8 from Argos so it's not a great expense if it current provide the relief you want.

Thanks ladies

We were told that our company would be providing desks chairs etc which is why I was asking.. my manager took our details of what we would need while from working from home and spoke to her boss who kind of said there is a shortage

Are you in a union? You could get them involved. My case was slightly different, as I have a pre-existing back injury so had a chair provided by Occ Health in the office pre-pregnancy, but I pushed for a chair to be provided for me at home and got one. Initially we were told we'd be able to pick up equipment from offices, then that didn't happen so after about 8 weeks of WFH & struggling with pain, I started pushing management and they ordered an office chair with lumbar support from Amazon for me. It's been a lifesaver!

What did help before the proper chair arrived was that I sat in a dining chair, using my pregnancy pillow as a "donut" underneath me and around my back. It wasn't perfect but it helped, as did taking a short walk at lunch to stretch my back.

Worth asking if they would reimburse you for the cost of buying what you need instead. My company is doing that for some people that had already bought monitors etc

I work from home as the norm and we buy our own desks, chairs etc, but reclaim via expenses.
There's a shortage atm and if they can't source you really have 4 options:
1 buy yourself if you can source
2 ask if work will refund if you source
3 put up and use what you have - dining chair? Garden chair even.
4 talk to the gp.

But as you're at home, I'd ask what else you'd be sitting on all day if not your sofa....