Pregnant during covid

[Clasikal]

Hi was after some advice, is anyone more than 28 weeks pregnant and is your job working closely with the public?
Gov advises to try and work from home when 28 weeks, but in my job I cant and I am very anxious about my safety at work during covid. Anyone is similar position? Thanks

Hi, will your work furlough you?mine will from 28 weeks.

I'm in the NHS and work on an inpatient ward. In my health board once you reach 28 weeks all pregnant women either have to work from home, or if you're unable to work from home you're "suspended" on full pay until your maternity leave starts.

No work wont furlough me, I've had to use holidays so far! They are wanting me back in work dealing with 100's of customers a day, but I dont feel safe! I'm not sure what to do, should I speak to my gp?

I'm now 30 weeks along and work in a very busy supermarket. Our store does not seem to be limiting numbers into the store and you can be surrounded by people. There's absolutely no sign of me being put on furlough and I don't have enough holidays left to make much difference. I am becoming quite anxious about it all to be honest

I work in retail and worked right up to 38 weeks. The 28 week rule only applies to things like health care, in retail you should be adhering to social distancing rules so it’s not counted as high risk as things like working in a care home.

Unfortunately although i do my best to adhere to the social distancing in place lost of customers don't and many will not back off when asked and will just ignore you as if you haven't spoken. Hopefully my store is just in an unlucky area and its not the same everywhere

I have just had a look at the Gov website, and it does say if you can't work from home, you should be suspended on full pay.
I would say look into this more, and perhaps request to discuss with your Manager?
You need to put you and your baby first, and so should you Employer xx

I’ve just seen today my company have now said that government rules have now changed and anyone past 28 weeks should now be off on full pay. Highly frustrating as I finished 2 weeks ago at 38 weeks.

I work in a public facing role and just turned 28 weeks. My employer followed the advice that I should work from home from 28 weeks or be moved to a different role / duties that aren't public facing. If neither of these were possible it would be to be sent home on medical leave (NOT starting mat leave until I intended to).

I've already spoke to my employer and they aware of being more vulnerable at 28 weeks, but still want me to return to work without changing my role or supporting me with not travelling on public transport at peak times. Doesn't seem like there is much support for us pregnant women!

Clasikal my employer is basically saying the same thing. Its strange how you can be doing the same job as someone else but they will be sent home and you wont

Yeah I dont understand it either lilianlawrie!
I've spoken to gp aswel which wasnt much help! I am totally stressed out and anxious, this cant be good for my health!

I just reached 28 weeks and have been suspended on full pay. The supermarket I work for has suspended all women who have underlying health conditions in pregnancy of are past the 28 weeks mark

Gemgem1404 I wonder why my company wont do that, seems like some places will and some wont going by people replies. Good for you!

Have your work carried out a risk assessment? You can request this at the very least so they have to detail ways in which they will mitigate the risks to you.
Some great advice on a website called pregnant then screwed if you google it, they even have letter templates to send to your employer. The guidance is they should suspend you on full pay if they can’t remove you from public facing or you can’t work from home after 28 weeks. Don’t give up, it’s worth pushing for not just yourself but others who are perhaps too frightened to speak up.

Glad they have sent you home gemgem. Im fortunate that I don't have any other underlying medical problems so unless something changes I guess I'll be in until 38 weeks.

Clasikal maybe if you explained the extra stress and anxiety you were facing they could put you on medical leave instead of furlough because your right it cant be good for you or baby

MrsB93 they done one at 13 weeks which was just basic, nothing to do with covid! Yeah I've seen the letter template, think I will give them one! I think they are hoping I'm just going to forget about the risks and just go back into work!

Lilianlawrie I have told them how I'm feeling, I was a total mess at work! You shouldn't be at work either, I hope u get away before 38 weeks

I'm 34 weeks and work in a Extremely busy GP practice. We run a minor injuries and a COVID vaccine hub as well as our own patients that need to be f2f (most are calls but some still need examination) so have literally hundreds of patients a day in the building.
I'm still in work but staying in the back of reception or in the admin area upstairs so far away from patients.
Being a GP practice they aren't allowed to furlough anyone.
Your workplace has a responsibility to ensure you can socially distance and not be public facing. If they can't provide that they have to either furlough or suspend with full pay. Find it on the gov website and print it as proof maybe, GPs can't provide letters for having to be furloughed for health reasons, there's templates on the gov website though.
Hope you get sorted OP the extra stress isn't good for either of you

My work have allowed me to work from home
From 28 weeks. I pushed for it x

Anyone know what the advice for teachers is? I asked my school if it would be possible to wfh from March (if the schools reopen) and got told no. They said it only needs to be possible to socially distance from adults and not children, which I don't believe is in the guidelines! Anyone on here work in education?

@Clasikal I'd definitely keep fighting for it. The government guidelines clearly state 28 weeks + pregnant is considered higher risk if they can't provide a non customer facing roll then they must suspend you on paid leave. Google coronavirus advice for pregnant women it's on gov.uk website it was updated on 11th January x

@WindFlower92 I am a teacher. Secondary. I worked up until 28 weeks and then at that point I emailed my head, after several conversations, and said I just didn’t feel safe. He agreed I could work from home. However now that we are in a national lockdown he actually sent all pregnant staff home no matter what gestation.

Is there any way your midwife could sign you off sick?
I only say this as I'm just over 28 weeks, and I work in a hospital, albeit not a patient facing role. I've been asking my boss if I can work from home, (which he let another member of staff do when she was 28 weeks back in the autumn). He refused my request and said that regardless of my colleagues being patient facing, and the inability to socially distance at work, that because I wear a mask all day then I'm perfectly safe.
I had a midwife appointment at 28wks and she signed me off sick for a few weeks due to the risk and my anxiety surrounding Covid, especially as colleagues have tested positive recently.

Would your midwife do the same for you? The stress can't be good for you.

I only wish the government would put in clear cut guidelines across the board for pregnant women, regardless of job role. Some employers have a knack of manipulating guidelines to suit themselves.