Teachers

[Hannah0505]

Just wondering if any teachers have recently had the work from home advice from unions met by their school? I’m facing a no at the moment, even from my third trimester which is soon.
I’ve presented the union guidance, the RCOG guidance which states about being 2x as likely for a stillbirth, the gov guidance for vulnerable workers…. Still nothing.
Is it just my school or has this stopped in all schools in the last few weeks?
The children I teach aren’t vaccinated, don’t wear masks and don’t lateral flow. I also can’t social distance due to age and needs (SEN school).

My school are currently upholding work from home in third trimester.

I am 28 + 4 weeks and have been working from home since we returned. Although the head wasnt thrilled I didnt have to fight for it!

Where does it say that OP? I'm on RCOG website now trying to see.

Are you fully vaccinated? (x3?)

@beansprout55

In pregnant women with symptoms of COVID-19, it is twice as likely that their baby will be born early, exposing the baby to the risk of prematurity. Several international studies have also found that pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of birth were more likely to develop pre-eclampsia, more likely to need an emergency caesarean and their risk of stillbirth was twice as high, although the actual number of stillbirths remains low.

Found at: www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/#pregnancy

I have had all 3 jabs but my booster was 3 months ago now so fading probably. And the guidance by unions doesn’t differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated in terms of wfh, although it does in other areas.

@Whatelsecouldibecalled @Lfjrjcjsjaja good to know some still area, maybe I should take mumsnet into my next ‘meeting’ / argument to show it is still happening!

Your GP might be willing to write you a fit note to specify amended duties to force your school to let you work from home

@SouthwestSis oh that’s a good idea thank you. I hadn’t wanted to get signed off as I know there is plenty I could do from home but I hadnt thought about them talking about amended duties

You could also ask the school to sign to say they are happy to accept responsibility for any detriment that you or your baby suffer as a result of covid exposure in the workplace, that might focus their minds!
Honestly it makes me so mad when people try to take advantage of women in pregnancy.

@SouthwestSis I feel like a bit of an idiot / burden even asking but then I think… it’s guidance for a reason! I shouldn’t have to fight for it

You are not a burden AT ALL.
Remember you are completely replaceable at work. Your baby only gets 1 mum. It's OK to prioritise you and your baby for these few weeks I a career that spans decades.

OP I feel you. I have just had this exact fight. Fortunately they have backed down and I will be wfh from 28 weeks (a few weeks away yet)

I felt like a burden too, shameful really when they have a duty as an employer to protect their employees.

Hypocritical when the dept that made the decision is currently wfh too. Bastards.

What swayed the decision was a phonecall to HR from my very pissed off consultant.

I really hope you fight your ground and they listen. At the end of the day you can always get a sick line. Look after yourself and baby.

The link you’ve posted talks about the risk for non vaccinated women, the links within that report was to findings from early 2021, before vaccines were generally available, and certainly before pregnant women were advised to get vaccinated. In that report, the women who had premature births or on other adverse outcomes also had other factors that put them more at risk generally of having early delivery.
Overall the advice is just that, advice. It’s not set in stone. So the unions can advise it, but it’s not part of teacher’s conditions of service I’m afraid. I would think that if you’re looking at possible amended duties, OH would need to be involved. Perhaps ask your Head for a referral?

All our pregnant teachers are in class, teaching as normal until their mat leave starts.

I have been told the guidance has changed and I will remain in the classroom. The school have had guidance that says it is to be more treated like an outbreak of chickenpox or similar - if there is an increase of cases in my year group then they will look at changing my duties. I was expecting guidance to change anyway so am not surprised.

I second @Soontobe60

I'm a nurse, and pregnant, still working and plan to be until mat leave - so was v surprised with what you said. Phew.

Do what makes you feel comfortable. If you're really worried about being in public whilst pregnant just say so. They have to listen at the very least.

xx

@Soontobe60 it talks about unvaccinated people being more likely to become severely unwell, but the section I have copied is to do with those with symptoms. Sadly, there are plenty of people I know that after three jabs have still got quite ill / had severe symptoms.

Of course, the chances are reduced thanks to the vaccines but at this stage the advice from my midwife, the doctor and the unions is clear to social distance during the third trimester… which I cannot do.

Hopefully further research would change that advice, I’d much prefer to be in work and not at a higher risk but I have to go with the current advice :)

@Hannah0505 This is the second thread on this subject and I'm in the exact same boat as you. Vaccinated, but work with SEN so no masks, no distancing, in fact very close physical contact to support them properly, and most not doing lateral flows.
I asked my GP and she said Occ Health would need to be involved because she didn't know if I was at risk or not as I had my booster in October. Not helpful!
So I've asked head for OH assessment which she has done a referral for.
But I feel a bit different to others, I don't want to work from home as there is no way of doing my job from home and I feel very needed at work. And I do have faith in the vaccination. I just want a doctor to tell me my vaccine will protect me. Obviously if they can't, then I don't want to be on site but that is not my goal with OH, my goal is to know I'm safe.

@Zibidee it’s so hard isn’t it! I feel the same, I don’t want to let down the pupils or the other staff but then my midwife was really urging me to make sure I was distanced. It feels like such mixed messages, really hard.

@Hannah0505 and when I spoke to my union, I felt like they were pushing me to insist on being at home doing nothing! It was like talking to a lawyer.
But then last Friday I thought I'd caught it, came down with sore throat and headache, and was really scared! Luckily I was negative. But it made me rethink and make sure I was questioning and pushing for my child over and above letting down my class.

@Zibidee I know, I don’t always think unions help as they can be quite forceful and I don’t always agree with them… but I know I have to consider both sides. This is why I don’t want to get signed off - if they’re paying me either way I’d rather be planning and doing echps and supporting the department rather than nothing!