Problems with work 16 weeks pregnant

[francesca26]

Hey, I am looking for some advice as I am getting really stressed out about my work situation.
I work in an office and in the building there are 50 employees. There have recently been quite a few cases of covid at work and people having to self isolate because of this (4 in the last month)
I spoke to the HR lady a week ago and told her I felt safer working from home as although they have put safety measures in place (screens between desks etc) I still feel I'm less at risk WFH and I am able to carry out my job remotely and still meet all my targets etc (I've worked there for 9 years!!) She said she would speak to my manager and operations director and call me when she returned from holiday, which was today but she never called.

I've just checked my email and seen my team leader (not my manager) has emailed me to ask when I will be back in as my manager has asked him!

I must add the company I work for are VERY anti work from home and want everyone in the office.

Does anyone know how I stand if they do tell me I have to go into the office?

If your company tell you to cone in...and your contracted place of work is the office then office it is.

Ask hr/facilities for a risk assessment but they can tell you to come in and can say your unpaid at home or even if they are so inclined.... have a formal meeting about you not working your contract.

Ultimately if the organisation has followed safety guidelines and have signed off your place of work as safe they dont need to agree you working at home regardless if you can do it or not

(Not saying its right...just thats a legitimate take they can have on it...)

And im saying this as a senior manager in a simmilar sounding organisation and when some of my department refused to come in I had to start formal hr meetings.... the team members quit...im looking for a new job too... dont think its been fair or forward thinking AT ALL

Hi Margot, I thought that would probably be the case. There have been a few other issues, separate from the WFH matter recently, where my manager has been very inappropriate (when I told him I was pregnant with my 2nd child, he told me I need to learn to keep my legs shut 🤦‍♀️, asked how many kids I plan on having and that he assumes I will want more time off work again)
So I guess I just have to weigh up my options at this point. It's just all a bit much at the moment.

@francesca26

Hi Margot, I thought that would probably be the case. There have been a few other issues, separate from the WFH matter recently, where my manager has been very inappropriate (when I told him I was pregnant with my 2nd child, he told me I need to learn to keep my legs shut 🤦‍♀️, asked how many kids I plan on having and that he assumes I will want more time off work again) So I guess I just have to weigh up my options at this point. It's just all a bit much at the moment.

Please tell me you reported this?!

@francesca26 in my unqualified opinion you're pretty safe after that inappropriate comment as I assume THAT is a CONTRIBUTING reason for wanting to WFH...BUT you need to let you're HR know.

Blood hell!!!! Please report those comments that is completely inappropriate!!!!

HR here. Provided nothing flags on a Covid or pregnancy risk assessment there is no reason they can’t ask you to come to work. Risk assessments should be redone any time anything changes.

But no, pregnant doesn’t mean WFH. Are you jabbed?

[quote ODFOD21]@francesca26 in my unqualified opinion you're pretty safe after that inappropriate comment as I assume THAT is a CONTRIBUTING reason for wanting to WFH...BUT you need to let you're HR know.[/quote]
As you don’t have HR/employment law knowledge (as proven elsewhere today) maybe stop providing your opinion as advice.

Have you reported those comments. You should.

If you aren’t jabbed I’d do that too

@NavigatingAdolescence I never used the word advice only OPINION and UNQUALIFIED at that so there we go!

No I haven't reported the comments yet as I have felt so stressed about how he would make my life hell if I did report him. This man is senior at the company, has worked there for over 30 years and his job role is crucial to the company, I know for a fact the director would not give him a disciplinary or anything because of the relationship they have. I just feel that he would make my life hell for the remaining time I work there before mat leave.

Obviously I know I should report it as it is completely wrong and I don't want any other women to experience the same, but to be totally honest I am just worried about how bad he will make it for me.

@francesca26 best ADVICE I can give you is to contact your union or ACAS. You have a case Xx

[quote ODFOD21]@francesca26 best ADVICE I can give you is to contact your union or ACAS. You have a case Xx[/quote]
Case for what?

Hi, if there is evidence of active spread at work, then I would talk to managers again, as looks like measures at work are not working well. Have they included measures to improve ventilation? Screens will be of limited effect and likely cause stagnant air and if you have infectious people sharing same room for hours the viral particles will hang as aerosols in the air for hours, if insufficient ventilation (see info from Catherine Noakes an expert on SAGE who has stuff on Internet and twitter which is really informative ).
It sounds like you can work from home, so makes sense to do so and allows more space for the rest.
The government guidelines do not appear to have changed and employers should still look for pregnant women to wfh im second trimester (nothing about vaccination or not)
Google uk.gov pregnancy covid

Sorry meant to say third trimester

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