Quiting my job

[Lainy476]

Hi just looking for some advice. Im currently 15 weeks pregnant n work for a supermarket. I have one manager tryin to force me to pull out heavy pallets and always on my back about something. I suffer from bad anxiety one of my triggers is bein claustrophobic. To which my work is aware of. They are now telling me I need to be moved to the checkouts to be off the shop floor. But are aware with all the screens and stuff at the tills that this will set my anxiety off. But say they don't have any other option. I know it will put added stress on me which will then stress the baby if I go on them. So I feel I have no other option but to leave my job. But I am not sure of what help I will get or if I will get any help straight away if I quit. My pregnancy is also considered high risk I should of said cause I'm asthmatic and have an under active thyroid. So I feel for the the welfare of me and the baby I would be best to leave. Can anyone give me any advice on this. Thanks

Can you not say that you don’t want to be on tills as you’re high risk pregnant and vulnerable due to asthma in regards to covid?

What alternative roles are there at the supermarket? Is there a Union you can contact for advice? Have you tried to speak to ACAS? A lot of unions have useful information online but getting personalised advice is even better. Leaving now could leave you without maternity pay so I'd look at it as a last resort.

She's feeling they are fully aware of this. But are claiming its my only option, I have emailed my midwife and union to see if I can get help from them on the matter. I also intend to fone the doctors on mon. I just feel they r tryin to push me out of my job.

They were originally goin to move me to the cigarette kiosk n do the self scans but are sayin its no longer an option incase im off sick due to my pregnancy. Im lookin into all my options before I do anything to haste.

They definitely need to find a role that is safe for you. Could they put you on stacking shelves where you move the racks around the shop floor and restock shelves of lighter items instead of pulling pallets or working on checkout? If you are high risk and have anxiety etc they need to accommodate this and if they cant they should put you on pull paid leave. It is their responsibility to keep you and baby safe esp with covid.
Im so sorry you are going through this. I had a horrendous time as i was so sick in my previous pregnancy with hyperemesis and treated like crap i quit my job and had nothing until MA came through 2 months before baby was born. Try everything you can to resolve it with HR or as others have said ACAS.

maternityaction.org.uk/advice-line/

I will fone acas on Monday mornin for advice. My personal manager admitted herself she knows my anxiety will play up if they move me to the checkouts. I feel as if they r pushing me out my job. Im lookin into all my options before I do anything. But I just know it will add stress onto me and the baby if I go to the checkouts n im not risking that for my job. But ill look into everything I can first thank u all for ur advice.

Pretty sure if they cannot find a suitable position they have to suspend you on full pay

They need to do a risk assessment and if there is no suitable role then they need to suspend you on full pay.

If your anxiety is chronic and classed as a disability then the equality act may apply.

Do not quit your job.

Genuine question (honestly!) but why does being asthmatic and having an under active thyroid make you automatically high risk? I have both (admittedly asthma is reasonably mild but thyroid is part of a bigger autoimmune condition) and it has never been mentioned to me that I am high risk in any of my 3 pregnancies?

I'm not sure just when I went for my booking appointment they told me I am classed high risk. Im looking into all my options before I do anythin to rash. Ive emailed my union n my midwife will wait to they get bck to me with advice n fone acas on mon see what they say. Ive suffered from anxiety for 3 yr n have been off work due to it so my work is fully aware of how bad my anxiety can get. I suppose I just have to wait to see what the union n that say to me. But thanks for ur help

Speak to your GP and get signed off. It sounds to me like they are trying to constructively dismiss you. Get signed and speak to your union or maternity action while you are off and formulate a plan .

I have emailed my union just waiting on a reply. I also emailed maternity action. Om also goin to fone acas tomorrow morning. N if need be ill fone my go n see what they say. But I feel they r trying to push me out of my job thanks.