Pregnant women on public transport

[acupofteamakeseverythingbetter]

Does anyone that commutes into London (or commutes anywhere for that matter) see many pregnant women on public transport?

I only ask as I'm increasingly concerned about travelling on public transport especially with this new covid variant and wondering whether I seem to be the only pregnant person commuting?

Have all the other women agreed with their employers to work from home?

Do I need to suggest this to my employer and take the risk of catching it whilst pregnant more seriously? Obviously I understand how serious it is and do everything in my power to stay safe ie have had my vaccines and wear masks etc but do you think I need to push back with my employer to see if I can work from home? I am only commuting in 3 days a week at the moment but am so worried about getting it especially whilst being pregnant.

Where are all my pregnant commuters? Xx

23 weeks here and have commuted 3 times a week so far. Working up until 32 weeks where I have some annual leave and then will start mat leave at 34 weeks.

Most people have been letting me sit- I also just don’t want to be touching handrails or having someone right up in my face with no mask on. If a train is particularly crowded I let it pass etc.

I see the odd other pregnant person but definitely not as many as pre-Covid which is interesting.

My job doesn’t allow me to wfh so no option there.

@Fet2021duejuly2022 yes, they'll do the risk assessment, no problem. I just don't think they'll 'see' the risk! And I guess I can't force them to agree with me. Arguably most of it is down to my commute, but come January when our open access building is heaving with members of the public again, I don't think they'll be able to deny the place is a bloody petri dish.

Yeah I know what you mean, it’s tricky, but surely they cannot rule out your risk of catching covid on public transport and in work?

Just to add, they have to add your travel to the risk assessment

I am mostly WFH and travelling into London occasionally for meetings. 33 weeks. I feel like I see very very few pregnant women on any form of public transport. Someone does always give me a seat though, which I'm very grateful for.

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter I've been WFH my whole pregnancy. I got pregnant in April and my boss started to get the team back in a couple of months after in the summer. I told him I was pregnant and he never made me come in thankfully! I have been on the trains a handful of times during pregnancy for other things like house viewing, hospital appointments but always outside rush hour and in Scotland masks have been kept on trains so I've never been too worried. Definitely worth speaking to your employer about any concerns

@2020mission what a great boss, I’m hoping my work can adjust things a bit. I’m worried especially now with this new variant

@2020mission did you do a risk assessment with your employer? Out of interest

@escapingthecity that’s good people offer you a seat. Interesting that you don’t see. Many pregnant women. I guess they are trying to avoid pt

I commute an hour each way into London where I work as a nurse, so naturally really worried about the variant and can't work from home. Unfortunately my work has risk assessed it and haven't given me an option but to continue commuting as my job can't be done from home. I've chosen to take a longer commute on a quieter but direct bus route rather than the trains which are busier and involve changing. I'd really love an option to avoid this as a few weeks from third trimester where covid risk goes up, but sadly no other options available. No advice but I feel your pain!

@AliceS1994 I feel lucky that I am in a position where I can work from home if needs be. So will you need to work right the way up until you go on mat leave?

Would you be able adjust your hours to avoid busy times too?

I'm in the second trimester but am seriously considering speaking to HR about my options when I approach the third trimester.

I'm also keeping a close eye on the number of new cases with the new variant and have sent an email to HR this morning to ask about having a call re risk assessment

I'm pleased mask wearing has been reintroduced. I saw a lot more people on the train this morning wearing them which makes me feel a little better about the commute!

@Fet2021duejuly2022 no he didn't do a risk assessment but a few of my team worked remote before the pandemic so I think he knew there was no reason he could refuse to let me do it when I was pregnant but then let the guys that worked remotely keep going as they were! Definitely speak to your employer and raise any concerns - your commute in is part of the risk so they need to consider that.

@2020mission thank you I will x

Interesting article in the guardian today www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/02/pregnant-women-fear-losing-jobs-over-covid-safety-worries-survey-finds

Just to update, I'm a few weeks off giving birth and was commuting into the office in a client facing role. With the new variant, I've since been told I can work from home.

They're advising any pregnant woman in the third trimester they can WFH if they prefer now.

Thanks @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 so all of us that haven't yet reached third trimester still advised to continuing going in as normal 😣

I have a meeting with HR tomorrow morning so will raise my concerns and hope they allow me to WFH

@acupofteamakeseverythingbetter well that's just my workplace. But I think we aren't at a higher risk of getting very unwell until the third trimester? I'm a high risk pregnancy, and was still okay to go in under risk assessment as work had taken the steps of making sure the desks were adequately spaced for distancing. And given the option to flex hours to travel off peak.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 that's good that your work allowed you to do flexible hours. My main concern is the commute so if I'm unable to wfh I will ask to change my hours

On the train to work today, half the carriage had no masks on ☹️

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 guidance has since changed and all pregnant woman are classed as higher risk.

@Fet2021duejuly2022

On the train to work today, half the carriage had no masks on ☹️

Yeah this makes me cross, obviously the £200 on the spot fine isn't working. Hate sitting near people not wearing masks, think it's pretty selfish of them

I’m 19+2 and have been commuting into London. I can’t wear masks and the nastiness I got off people this week (despite looking pregnant now) will put a stop to me going in from now on.

@WorryMcGee sorry to hear that. Although I feel very uncomfortable around people without masks I understand some people can’t wear them. Why can’t you wear one?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 yes all the people I saw yesterday looked in their 20s/30s and fit and healthy. I’d eat my hat if they all had a proper Excuse for not wearing one