Working at office pregnant, not social distancing

[Leo090813]

Good morning

Looking for a bit of advice please. I have been WFH on and off since March 20, since my son went back to school in March I have been asked to work 2 days in office and the other 2 at home which has been fine until now. I am now 15 weeks pregnant, and with the increase in cases again I am getting quite nervous due to the fact I have someone next to me within about a meter of me, and masks are only worn when we leave our desks meaning for the majority of the day I am not social distancing. I also have one person opposite me, (both our screens between us) and one directly behind me. I have had a couple of disagreements about the lack of social distancing before I was pregnant, as I was concerned about my mum catching it as she is CEV( she was in my bubble). They just bluffed it off and gave no real response, and said because they're part of the construction industry they are exempt from the working from home advice. now I am concerned about myself and my baby's health, the government website says employers of pregnant women need to ensure they can adhere to gov advise on social distancing, and my work arent. The fact I've already had disagreements with them makes me nervous to bring this up but I feel they aren't looking out for my health at all. Im nervous if I raise the issue I'll be seen as a trouble maker but I really think what they're doing is not on. Any advice anyone?

Has a covid risk assessment been done for you?

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

Has a covid risk assessment been done for you?

No, when I told HR. They said risk assessment will be around 20 weeks, which when speaking to another employee is just the general pregnant risk assessment , not a Covid one x

20w will just be the general one.
I would email manager copying in HR asking for a COVID risk assessment, see if you can move desks.
They should have done all of this, you shouldn’t have to be asking.

pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/write-to-your-employer-risks-for-pregnant-women/

This might help you op

@Moonshine11

20w will just be the general one. I would email manager copying in HR asking for a COVID risk assessment, see if you can move desks. They should have done all of this, you shouldn’t have to be asking.

Thank you, I will do that. I thought the same about the 20 w one just being general one. I work in a male oriented business so I expect they weren't aware of having to do a Covid risk assessment. Thank you x

@THATbasicSNOWFLAKE

pregnantthenscrewed.com/covid-19/write-to-your-employer-risks-for-pregnant-women/

This might help you op

Wow that's Perfect, thank you, I will use that and email them now x

What happens when you use the toilet? The kitchen? Go to the photocopier?

@Sometimesfraught82

What happens when you use the toilet? The kitchen? Go to the photocopier?

We have to wear masks when we leave our desks which is madness as that's when I'm furthest away from people

I emailed HR and copied manager in about the Covid risk assessment. She's replied saying "actually we need to do a full workplace expectant mother's RA with you (not just Covid). my manager has the forms already so he should do with you when you're both free at some point. In terms of desk space, I'll ask manager to review this for you too when he does the RA."

So no urgency it seems if he's had the forms for a while

Bump - has anyone else got any further advice/ experience? Thanks xx

So I had my risk assessment today but it was normal pregnancy oneand didn't mention anything on covid, are they missing something?! So I asked to add a section in and said I want to be moved to somewhere I can distance and he said there isn't anywhere, so he said he will speak to his boss and HR about me wfh full time. He was very understanding and said Between u and me I totally see where you're coming from but HR and his boss don't!! Which has really annoyed me, how can HR not see this is a serious risk to mine and my baby's health. I'm pretty angry!! But hopefully I can just wfh full time xx

I would advocate for yourself as much as possible. Covid during pregnancy can be very dangerous, and if you can work from home successfully, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to. My SIL got covid when she was 35 weeks, age 38, and it was extremely serious.

It's too bad they can't just get out a measuring stick and make sure the desks are far enough apart.

@Aquamarine1029

I would advocate for yourself as much as possible. Covid during pregnancy can be very dangerous, and if you can work from home successfully, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be able to. My SIL got covid when she was 35 weeks, age 38, and it was extremely serious.

Thanks for your comment. It's unfortunate that I do have to advocate for myself so much with a very unhelpful HR team, but I will do what I have to do to keep me and my baby safe and if they have an issue with that then they are not a company I'll be rushing back to after this baby's born! X

@CellyBee

It's too bad they can't just get out a measuring stick and make sure the desks are far enough apart.

They've done that, and they're too close. And that's why we originally got to wfh, but they just asked us back gradually as they don't like us being home! Totally against regulations !