Work being unreasonable, handed a work place adjustment form & told to get a doctor to look at it.

[TCrystal]

Hi so I’ve returned to work after being off with muscular/skeletal pain for 2 weeks. I’m 28 weeks pregnant and expressed my concern about travelling in rush hour traffic and that i start to get cramp half way through the drive. So asked for 9-5 to be 8-4 instead and basically got told they can’t just accommodate everything for me because I’m pregnant.

I don’t feel safe at work, I work in retail and asked to be moved onto lighter lifting but they’ve tried to get me on bakery which is harder than the department I’m already on. I feel like my head department manager isn’t very sympathetic and she basically told me that I have to work within the business needs and where I’ll fit?

i now feel anxious and will a doctor even look at a form my work place has given me regarding work place adjustments?

But you won't injure it because you are following correct manual handling.

You are flat out refusing to do work...... which is different than saying "I have a concern with this work as I'm pregnant". Hence go back to the H&S aspect of it all and ask for the correct training etc.

Yes, this is my experience too. 8-4 you will often hit a lot of school traffic too.

Sorry but where have I out right refused to work? If that was the case I’d have told them to get stuffed and walked out yesterday? I’m not just a lazy shit that wants to do nothing 😂

Places must be different I have worked a range of hours in the past & those were the best I found in my area. I’m awake from 6am normally and I find around 3pm I’m tired - that’s why I suggested leaving at 4 aswell as the traffic being lighter than at 5pm.

I haven’t just demanded at all.. I do work 12-8 on a Thursday and Saturday 9-5.. those aren’t an issue other than being knackered but the main issue is the traffic.. being tired unless I’m actually drained isn’t as bad.

it takes me 50 minutes on a bus aswell as 40 minutes each way walking in total. So that’s actually adding on even more time. I think what I’ve suggested is quite fair for both me and the company in all fairness. I’ve worked with them for 10.5 years so Im not new there

Op be careful with your note

the doctors sick note can make as many adjustments as they like

it states clearly on it that if the business can’t manage the adjustments then they can make you go on sick

now if you get full pay then that may be fine

but you may force their hand if not

they don’t have to follow a doctors sick note if the business can’t manage with the precautions on it

I know this as I’ve kept staff on sick longer rather than have them return with dozens of restrictions.

the latter puts strain on others

Have you contacted HR at Head Office? Sometimes branch management know jack shit.

FWIW- DH is a ex bakery manager for Sainsburys. It's a heavy job, even for an able bodied man, let alone a pregnant woman. It's about lifting industrial sized bags of flour and other raw ingredients.

If the traffic was really such an issue you would accept their 7-3 proposal. It’s ridiculous to say you can’t work 9-5 due to pregnancy and must have an earlier start and finish but then say you couldn’t possibly do 7-3! If you’re tired go to bed earlier, pregnancy isn’t a reason for not working at 7am.
You’re sounding incredibly precious.

Shorter hours might be a good suggestion, yes.

Their communication isn't great and I can see why you are confused. How can your poor GP know what bakery duty etc involves? Are they offering 8-4 or 7-3? I can see why you're asking questions

I'd ask the GP for a fit to work note with restrictions - fit to work if altered hours, changes of position, no heavy lifting etc. Then work from there.

But it does look as if they are trying to accommodate you. So if you want to keep working I'd try to work with them.

Sounds about right, Yes it is heavier work than management know. They’re not the ones on there doing the job to know what the job entails anymore.. thats where the lack of understanding comes in with these new managers, they’ve never actually done the job role to see what it involves! Hence why I went onto the bakery department and asked the actual workers whether they think it’s reasonable for me to do or not.

Thank you- yes I’m confused as to what exactly they are wanting me to do. It’s hard to explain when people don’t work in that area, people just think “oh it’s just packing” it’s really not there’s more to it than just packing. I think I’m best just explaining how it’s been put across to me & that I feel anxious as I’m being told different things.. I don’t really know what I’m doing & I’ll tell them what I’m hoping to do a see whether the doctor agrees.

I think your best bet is to show the GP the note and ask him to confirm that you are fit to work in these or comparable areas so long as you are not required to lift heavy items, stand or sit too long, etc etc.

Otherwise you just end up in a situation where you, your managers, and presumably the GP have to all work from the same definition of "bakery" for example.

But I'd advise you not to raise problems around structure, change, training that you might not get to use for long. Because your managers need to have flexibility to do their jobs turning a profit for the store and keep you safe at the same time. And some change of work, change of schedule from day-to-day, and chance to pay you to gain skills for the future could help them a lot with that. Don't make it too easy for them to sign you off unless you want to be signed off.

Hi OP,

As you already have a risk assessment in place. It would best to follow it.
It seems you've been doing the very physical cleaning jobs and heavy lifting. Just stop it, and if they ask why or tell you to do it, refer them to your risk assessment.
If they put you in the bakery, only do the packing of prepared items and the physically able jobs for you. If they put you on the shop floor, only do the light, manageable jobs.

In terms of the adjustment in hours, do not focus on the journey to work causing you leg cramps. Your journey to work regardless of how you get there, whether that's driving, walking, taxi or bus, isn't their problem they only have a duty of care for you on work premises and time.
So id focus on pregnancy related tiredness. This may be resolved by shortening your shifts, however, they would still be within their right to ask you to start and finish at what time suits them depending on the work so you may end up travelling at least one journey in bad traffic.

I personally would accept the 7am to 3pm shift, try get to sleep earlier and wake earlier and absolutely stick to your risk assessment. If they want you in the bakery at 7am knowing there is heavy lifting involved you can't do, that's their problem.

Hope you get it resolved for the next 4 weeks before your mat leave and catch up on all your rest before the baby comes.
I was tired during my pregnancy with my first but nothing could of prepared me for the tiredness of a new baby!