Should I push to WFH from 28 weeks?

[MrsChipsreturns]

Currently 20w with baby number 2. I've had both my covid jabs so fully vaccinated. I work in an NHS dentist. Its very busy and people are now allowed to walk in and out as they please to book appointments etc.

I know the guidance is still currently for pregnant people over 28w to WFH where possible and where not possible to be given full pay but stay at home until maternity leave starts. I am requested to start my mat leave from 32 weeks anyway.

My question is, should I push this with work? I don't think I will be able to WFH as its not that kind of job so I would be off on full pay. I am anxious about catching covid and I think I work in a fairly high risk environment.

Eager to hear from anyone else going through same.

I wouldn’t if you’re double vaccinated, especially not if you’re starting ml at 32 weeks. You’ll be absolutely fine.

We have several pregnant teachers who are still working past 28 weeks. It’s not possible for them to teach their class from home and the school can’t afford to pay both them and a supply. If the GP was to sign them off, that’s different, but they don’t seem to be doing this routinely.

As you’re double jabbed and can’t work from home, I’m sure you’ll be fine to work.

Well you've had both jabs and can't do yourjob from home, so no. It'll just reflect badly on you and seem you want that extra 4 weeks off on full pay.

I think I work in a fairly high risk environment

Why’s that?

Do you wear a mask? Do your colleagues?

@Howshouldibehave It is a dentist within a busy health centre. Yes we all wear masks and the patients do but you obviously get people wondering in without them on on a daily basis. We also do aerosol treatments that come with risks. I'm not saying what I do is riskier than say - a teacher - but I do have concerns.

No, you’re going off from 32 weeks anyway. You’re double vaccinated. I think you’re overthinking this.

If you know you can't wfh are you just wanting to try your luck being off with full pay from 28 weeks till mat leave?

Yes, we all have concerns. I would imagine you are a lot safer than most employees with those protocols in place.

@ApplesandBananas21 You can take your goady response right back thank you. No one should have to explain why they are worried about their unborn child in a pandemic.

@SmidgenofaPigeon Thank you. Good to know. You're probably right.

[quote MrsChipsreturns]**@ApplesandBananas21* You can take your goady response right back thank you. No one should have to explain why* they are worried about their unborn child in a pandemic.[/quote]
Hmm, don’t know, I think they should if they’re fully vaccinated against the pandemic illness but want an extra four weeks off paid!

I would push to wfh. If anything did happen like you delivered early from COVID then you wouldn't forgive yourself. There's no reason to risk long term complications for a few weeks of work.

@TicketyTickTock

I would push to wfh. If anything did happen like you delivered early from COVID then you wouldn't forgive yourself. There's no reason to risk long term complications for a few weeks of work.

The OP has said she can’t work from home so would have to just be home on full pay.

The government website states:
(www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-pregnant-employees)
The following recommendations apply for pregnant women who are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond or with underlying health conditions that place them at a greater risk of severe illness from coronavirus
If you are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond, or if you are pregnant and have an underlying health condition that puts you at a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19 at any gestation, you should take a more precautionary approach.

This is because although you are at no more risk of contracting the virus than any other non-pregnant person who is in similar health, you have an increased risk of becoming severely ill and of pre-term birth if you contract COVID-19.

Your employer should ensure you are able to adhere to any active national guidance on social distancing and/or advice for pregnant women considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (this group may previously have been advised to shield).

For many workers, this may require working flexibly from home in a different capacity.

All employers should consider both how to redeploy these staff and how to maximise the potential for homeworking, wherever possible.

Where adjustments to the work environment and role are not possible (e.g. manufacturing/retail industries) and alternative work cannot be found, you should be suspended on paid leave. Advice on suspension and pay can be found in HSE guidance.

So you are within your rights to at least request a risk assessment, explain your anxieties and concerns about people people facing. I can't tell you what I would do as I'm lucky enough to be working from home, but if it is a real concern to you, you need to at least have the conversation with the practise about changes to make you feel safer.

God, some not very helpful responses on here. People with too much time on their hands I suspect, who no doubt aren’t currently pregnant and working in a customer facing job all day! Definitely not ‘overthinking’ to be concerned about your unborn baby’s safety 🤔

I’m a teacher working from home just now, have been since 28 weeks. Haven’t been vaccinated and have only just been offered it now so not sure how that would change where you stand on things but I think the guidance is still pregnant employees should be at home if social distancing can’t be in place or alternate duties can’t be offered where you’re not in a public facing role. I am still working, not teaching my own class but there’s a lot of development work teachers can do from home that wouldn’t get done otherwise. Maybe ask your midwife for advice and speak to your employer about your risk assessment.

@breadbinbaby so she’s having to start maternity leave at 32 weeks due to a global pandemic making it unsafe to be in the workplace yet you think it’s unreasonable to ask to be kept safe for a few weeks prior to this?! 🤔

Im a dental nurse at a hospital- I'm fully vaccinated. Atm our guidance is to be non patient facing from 28 weeks so ill be going over to the offices then. So as long as you're not patient facing and doing an admin role that's the correct procedure

[quote sarah13xx]@breadbinbaby so she’s having to start maternity leave at 32 weeks due to a global pandemic making it unsafe to be in the workplace yet you think it’s unreasonable to ask to be kept safe for a few weeks prior to this?! 🤔[/quote]
I disagree with the premise that she’s unsafe now.

@sarah13xx ACTUALLY I am currently pregnant (27 weeks) and I work with children. I also commute in every day and have only had one vaccine dose. I’m comfortable with my choice to keep working until maternity leave at 35 weeks. I don’t believe it to be a particularly risky thing to be doing.

Just because we are not all anxious about it, doesn’t mean we’re not in the same situation or cosseted away at home.

Your allowed to be worried about covid whilst pregnant OP. It is a worrying time even more so when when not jusy yourself you are worrying about :)

My plan was to approach my employer with the guidance and sit down and talk to them about my concerns and see if we could Co up with some suitable mitigations together for it so it doesn't come across like I'm trying to get extra time off (as thats not my intention but I can see how some people who arnt pregnant or share the same concerns might see that) ... they are guidance documents and not legal requirements I think from reading it so it's really up to the employer to decide but hioefully if you have a good employer than they will be supportive of your needs and help you to mitigate your worries :)

I've got a long way to go yet so the guidance might all change before I get to the third trimester in September and for me.. ive been working at home since this all started anyway (medical condition also makes me high risk) but I appreciate that it's not as straightforward for those who can't work from home :)

Good luck OP xx

[quote MrsChipsreturns]**@ApplesandBananas21* You can take your goady response right back thank you. No one should have to explain why* they are worried about their unborn child in a pandemic.[/quote]
Not the only one to say 😂

@SmidgenofaPigeon at 27 weeks I was also in a classroom full of 5 year olds all day every day with little to no mitigations in place to protect me. Luckily while I was there the cases were still low in my area but since I’ve been working from home there’s a case in every school in my area now, many of which have multiple classes isolating. So the chances of coming into contact with a positive case at the moment (where I stay anyway) are really quite high. Everyone has a different perception of how safe or unsafe they are and people should be able to consider their/their unborn baby’s safety without people making such blunt comments on here

I'm an NHS clinician who is 25 weeks. I'm going to ask to WFH in the third trimester for sure. They may well say no of course!

I do think you should follow the RCOG guidance and that does still say to WFH from 28 weeks.

@breadbinbaby
You disagree with the RCOG guidance?