Workplace stress in pregnancy

[Ozabet40]

hi …

Currently 23weeks … I work in quite a stressful role managing a team of 10+ people, I work alongside another manager and I’m due to start my maternity leave in October.
The other manager has been quite taken a back by my pregnancy news and is quite unhappy that she’ll have to stay to manage the team on her own. She’s now actively looking for a new role and has been putting the word about in the company, she’s already got a couple of interviews coming up in the next week or so and will definitely get the jobs as they love hiring internally where I work!!

I’m now feeling pretty stressed because the role isn’t an easy one to fill and we’ve both been here for years, and if she goes then I’ll be left with a team of 20+ staff including a new manager who is demanding to say the least, and all the other crap that gets thrown my way daily…

im really not sure what to do. I suppose I can look to bring my maternity leave forward but then again that’s just cutting into my time with baby which I really feel is unfair.

i know it’s a long shot but has anyone experienced a situation like this and if so what did you do??? Just need some advice really as I’m a FTM and never been in a situation like this. My friends are all in easy admin roles so don’t really understand the position I’m in…

If that happens and you can’t cope, you can get signed off with stress by your GP.

Can you speak to your superior and ask them how they plan to fill the roles? It's unfair for additional stress to be put on you, but that's obviously the same stress your colleague was seeing in her future. She has every right to move department if she wants to. I think you need to sit down with your superiors and let them know your concerns.... it's a stressful job in any event, they don't appear to have anyone to cover your maternity and the other manager is planning an imminent move and so you'd like to know what plans are in place for the running of the teams?

Agree with the comments above from everyone that it isn't fair for you to take on the extra people. I also have a stressful job, but it sounds like your manager might not be as understanding.

I would

1. Speak to the manager about your concerns and make it clear that you do not have capacity to manage an extra ten people
2. Ask about what the plans are to cover those ten people (which should either be another hire or your manager for a short time)
3. If they still try to make you do it, make it clear you cannot
4. If they do and you cannot cope, go off unwell with stress

I know that if you are unwell with a pregnancy related reason close to your due date they can start maternity early, however stress is caused by work.

You need to look after yourself and baby as #1 a priority

Where’s the support from above you? And what does your pregnancy risk assessment say about stress?
I had a very stressful job during my first pregnancy and it got to the point at 20ish weeks whete I was so stressed I burst into tears in an appointment with the midwife. I took a day off to reflect on what support I needed and then met with my manager and told them what I needed and that the midwife had said that if things didn’t improve she would recommend I take a longer period of time off sick

What are they planning to do about your mat cover?

In my experience, internal moves are often delayed if too impactful on the current role - presumably if your colleague is successful, your manager may not release her until some cover is recruited due to your impending leave.

Irrespective of that, you need to do what's best for you and your baby - this should be a problem for your manager, not for you

I'm in a similar position with my role and my company are getting someone in for my mat leave handover asap even though I'm not due to leave until December
any chance they could speed up your mat leave cover too to ease your load and make their life easier when you are off.