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.

@Jelliestogether

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

The following recommendations apply for women less than 28 weeks pregnant with no underlying health conditions that place them at a greater risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19)

^You must first have a workplace risk assessment with your employer and occupational health team.

Then, you should only continue working if the risk assessment advises that it is safe to do so.

This means that your employer should remove or manage any risks. If this cannot be done, you should be offered suitable alternative work or working arrangements (including working from home) or be suspended on your normal pay.

Your employer should ensure they are able to adhere to any active national guidance on social distancing.

Some higher risk occupations such as those with greater public contact or in healthcare may carry a higher risk of exposure to the virus. In healthcare settings this may include working in specific higher risk areas or higher risk procedures as summarised in the Public Health England publication Guidance on Infection Prevention and Control.

You should be supported by your employer with appropriate risk mitigation in line with recommendations to staff arising from workplace risk assessment.

If alternative work cannot be found, advice on suspension and pay can be found in HSE guidance.^

I personally wouldn’t worry. My second was born last year pre vaccines and I work in a job I can’t social distance in. I worked until 38 weeks. However, i am self employed and couldn’t afford to be off at 28 weeks.

They changed the guidelines on working from home from 28 weeks. If you've had a risk assessment and the employer can demonstrate that social distancing and wearing masks etc then I don't think they will allow u to go off. Plus if you've been fully vaccinated I'm not sure why you would think your entitled.

I’m a nurse on a very busy ward and 32 weeks. Iv been non patient facing since 28 weeks as per national guidance. I spend half my time in the office helping with audits and whatnot, and half my time behind the nurses station assisting with admin type tasks where I’m still on the ward but working behind a screen with PPE. I’m no longer caring for patients.

Prior to qualifying as nurse I worked as a dental nurse for years. I don’t think the majority of people posting with such unsupportive replies on here understand the role of dental nurses and how assisting with AGP’s dramatically increase the risk of catching COVID (hence to step up to level three PPE being required).

I don’t think you should push to work from home/suspension straight away. You need to give the practice a chance to find suitable alternatives and reasonable adjustments to your role to reduce any risk to yourself. There must be plenty of tasks you can help with such as ensuring the practice is prepared for CQC inspections, helping with audits, assisting the practice manager with admins tasks. If the reception area has enough screens, space and adequate protection from the public you could assist there aswell helping with phones or emails.

If the practice cannot find any duties to take you away from patient facing roles then you should be medically suspended on full pay. I would arrange to speak to your practice manager and have the government guidance to hand to discuss what reasonable adjustments to practice can make. Cases are on the rise again so we have to look after ourselves. As you can see from some of the replies, some of people don’t seem to care about anyone else but themselves. Good luck and stay safe and do what is right for you and your baby x

I work in a school (office role not teacher) 3 pregnant staff including me, the two teachers are wfh and have been since 28 weeks a shuffle of PPA days etc has managed the cover (we also have perm cover teachers) there's a lot of work they can do with students via Teams and planning etc. I'm WFH two afternoons to reduce my contact with students, parents and staff so it is slightly biased as I probably come into contact with a lot more adults but I have to take precautions around masks, sanitising, social distancing in the school etc and go on mat leave at 36 weeks. I'm not vaccinated. I would speak to your employer or they should be speaking with you to update your risk assessment anyway I would think?

I'm surprised at the not so nice responses on here too. I'm in the dental industry (although not in practice) and it's only a few months ago that every pregnant dentist or dental staff member would stop work at 28 weeks if nothing else suitable could be found and be entitled to full pay. This was pretty non-negotiable. I think the lines are somewhat blurred now since so many are vaccinated.

Whilst a dental surgery itself is one of the most stringently clean environments to be in, you don't know where patients themselves have been and to have spray/aerosols floating around plus be in such close proximity to the patient generally, is scary for anyone during these times.

In fact I've just read @ExcitingTimes2021 post and I couldn't have put it better myself, excellent advice. Good luck OP and sorry you've had some goady responses.

@ExcitingTimes2021 I think what you’ve said is spot on.
I can’t believe how many people think this entitled or pushy, rather than looking to keep themselves safe when numbers are rising again and you’re dealing with people that you don’t know the vaccine status - or if they might be symptomatic or not.

I'm currently 22 weeks and my work are sending me home from 28 weeks paid until my maternity leave starts in October. I wouldn't take the risk; and definitely don't feel guilty for asking to finish early the guidance is there for a reason.

I'm currently medically suspended from work as I'm 35 weeks pregnant - have been since 28 weeks. My mat pay is starting at 38 weeks as originally planned.
Slight difference is that I'm a nanny so impossible to social distance from the children therefore my workplace could not be made covid secure. Obviously my bosses have had to cover me as they need childcare but they have been able to medically furlough me so 80% of my wage is covered by that and then they top it up - all completely fine and checked with HMRC etc.

I would raise your concerns with your bosses and ask for a new risk assessment. There may be even more things they can do to help make the workplace covid secure but I think with masks, social distancing and perspex screens that's the best you can get? They may be able to change the rules for patients again so they can't just walk in off the street to limit the amount of people in there etc?
If the risk is still too great then you may be able to argue for suspension on full pay from 28 weeks but I'm not sure how strong the argument would be as you can social distance and wear a mask - therefore the workplace is "covid secure" 🤔

Good luck! It is a scary time and it's hard to know what to do for the best x

[quote SillyBry]@ExcitingTimes2021 I think what you’ve said is spot on.
I can’t believe how many people think this entitled or pushy, rather than looking to keep themselves safe when numbers are rising again and you’re dealing with people that you don’t know the vaccine status - or if they might be symptomatic or not.[/quote]
Your missing the point. Everyone wants to be safe that's obvious. But if your employer can demonstrate that they are abiding by the government guidance / relocating staff so they're not customer facing if they can then they don't have to grant early paid leave, which is correct. It's really down to the risk assessment. The OP is also fully vaccinated so combined with the social distancing and mask wearing the risk would likely be deemed as minute.