June 2021 - part 4!

[swiftt]

We filled up the other thread already!

@Nesski Yes I hadn’t even given it a thought, we only look after 1 girl whose shielding and has had her vaccination. We’re all tested weekly and also 6 have had the vaccination (2 are pregnant like me) so we can’t. I also only go out once per week to shop and won’t be going to any houses or shops once they open either as I don’t shop. So I guess just hand washing and stay away from
other carer at work 🤣🤣

@AlRRRR you shouldn’t be working after 28 weeks if your employer can’t ensure that you can maintain social distancing at all times. You should really be doing alternative work from home, or if that’s not possible then you need to be suspended on full pay. I’m 29 weeks and a pharmacy tech, but was sent home at 28 weeks even though I could technically work in isolation at work.

@swiftt ooooo gosh! I have rang them and asked, they’d not heard of it, it’s a private home and we go there to look after her, her mum is the ‘boss’ so I rang her and she has now chased up a risk assessment, and also ringing then solicitor department to check, but yes, no social distancing and we work with one other person + the girl for 14-18 hours (I do 1 14.5 hour shift a week)

[quote swiftt]@AlRRRR you shouldn’t be working after 28 weeks if your employer can’t ensure that you can maintain social distancing at all times. You should really be doing alternative work from home, or if that’s not possible then you need to be suspended on full pay. I’m 29 weeks and a pharmacy tech, but was sent home at 28 weeks even though I could technically work in isolation at work.[/quote]
See I read this on the gov website but hr at work hadn't heard a single thing about it so they've suggested I go to work as usual when we reopen on the 12th and they'll do a health and safety assessment to see what's what. Although I work for a large company, my shop is small and our capacity is 12 people including staff at one time (so basically 8 members of the public will be allowed in at one time) over Christmas, it was nearly impossible to be 2 meters from another person so I can't see how it's going to work for me but they're adamant that I need to go back.

Thankfully I've managed to save up my holidays so have 3 weeks to take before starting maternity leave- this means I will only be at work for 3 weeks. 😂😂😂

@AIRRRR I would definitely consider that patient facing if you’re in direct contact giving care. @swiftt is definitely right that as of 28 weeks regardless of any underlying conditions or having none you should be non contact and able to social distance for any work. If not you’re off on full pay. Hopefully you can get something in place.

@Waitingforbabypage @AlRRRR it’s all in the government guidance so I’d be sending them a link to that. Don’t put yourself at risk!

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees

@Waitingforbabypage from what I can see from others’ comments and the gov guidance, they can’t make you unless they can prove you can social distance at all times, ? but my work were oblivious too

It's probably worth noting that this is all government guidance so @AIRRRR just consider your situation and make a call on that.. your work is obliged to meet your needs though! I'm glad this topic of convo came up!

Yes interesting how different employers are doing different things, sent my boss the gov guidance and she reads it that it’s only clinically vulnerable pregnant women who need to stop working at 28 weeks, but she’s double checking with the management company

I sometimes have to visit construction sites for my job. That’s been an entertaining one from a covid/generally safety point of view.

I wear a hard hat and metal shoes but what protects the bump!! Also had a debate about ladders. Part of me wants to be this hardcore construction professionally who can do anything. The other part is shit scared of falling over/off a roof and is refusing to enter site cabins because social distancing isn’t possible when they cram them with 6 people.

Let’s just others have picked up my site visits.

@PinkPlantCase I also work in construction and you definitely shouldn’t be on a site, especially at our stage in pregnancy. Even pre covid, I wouldn’t have been allowed on site when they knew I was pregnant. Totally agree about site cabins, they are way to small and close to be able to social distance in there!

My work have been great and I’ve been WFH ever since I told them I was expecting. Anything I’ve needed they’ve made sure it’s come to me.

I personally wouldn’t do a public facing role after 28 weeks unless they can put safe procedures in place, nobody can argue with government guidance 👍🏻

I'm now 29 weeks. I've been at home since last year due to other health reasons. I work on a NICU. I've now had both vaccines and all women and partners are screened at birth. All staff are screened weekly and only 4 members are now wIting for their second Jab. Im going bit insaine. My hospital only has 9 covid positive patients and they are all on adult wards. I've decided to go back when shielding ends next week. I feel safe. But think I will assess weekly and see how I feel.

29 weeks here and also banished from the workplace!

Make sure your employer knows the guidance.

I'm a home carer and work were going to put me on paid leave but wanted to furlough me and only pay me 80%, so I showed them various facts about me being entitled to full pay if on leave and they did a speedy u turn the day before I turned 28 weeks. Now doing my equivalent weekly average hours in the office helping with admin. Boring but at least it's something to do I guess!

I started working from home at 28 weeks, up until then I had been going into work.
Not sure if this will change when shielding ends at the end of the month so will have to keep an eye on the guidance. I haven't had the jab so would prefer to not have to go back in.

I find it really interesting seeing all the different scenarios and rules! I just have a boring office job so have worked at home since March 2020 and will work at home until I'm 39 weeks (unless anything happens sooner).

I’m so tempted to bring my maternity leave forward. I had to do a 70 week this week (contracted for 38, overtime not paid) and I’m very close to having enough and saying I need to start leave early because the stress and lack sleep really isn’t okay.

Thank god it’s the weekend! I do seem to have lost my ability to lye in though

@PinkPlantCase if you can afford to, do it. I do an office based job and have been speaking to three different women who had babies in the covid period, the first thing they all said to me on separate conversations were to a) finish earlier as you won't be able to sleep and you'll be fed up and then b) we will want to nest and have time for ourselves i.e. do hair, last minute prep/purchases seeing as all shops are shut. Plus, we would be able to see friends and family. I'm finishing at 37 weeks!

Starting to find alot more things exhausting XD
Ie getting dressed, rolling over in bed to get comfortable, walking 😴

@Sitchervice sames, Ive walked 10 miles throughout today and now I'm wiped out and can't stand in the kitchen to make dinner! Definitely need to do less tomorrow and remember that I'm 29+5 🙈

Ladies, Am I being too optimistic to think I would be able to do a spin class post the May date roadmap?

@Nesski I'd say that sounds incredibly uncomfortable, especially if you've dropped by then 😂 but who knows! Think you'd have to judge it at the time.

@Nesski I would have still been doing my spin classes IF LOCK DOWN NEVER HAPPENED! If it helps my sister did spin until she was 8 months but she was an instructor.

@Sitchervice @Lovethatjourneyforme my vision of pregnancy was going to be going to classes three/four times a week to keep my fitness up, all taken away from me (us) and reduced to bloody walking 10k steps a day. Just incredibly sad and getting sitting here feeling sorry myself for getting fat

@Nesski I get what you mean. I feel Very fat. My husband keeps saying I don't, but all the will power of not giving into sweets cakes and pastries exct has gone.

If I want cheesy chips I now look for them any way I can 😭