Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

8 months & duties in work - aibu

13 replies

halion · 24/09/2024 12:44

I am still currently working until 35 weeks preg, in a busy pharmacy with minimum staff so generally up on my feet alot of the day. Im constantly struggling with doing certain duties ie lifting boxes of scripts down from high above height level, dealing with dispensary issues combined running in & out to serve at the counter as they can't provide extra cover when the counter assistants off. Other dispensary staff also off sick so no cover there. Just the general extra work load that im really struggling with lately. I do get to do certain tasks sitting down, which is all I'm able to do now due to extreme pgp and now back pain. Manager is aware of these issues. Now today everyone was asked to cover the counter which I objected to, i kind of put my foot down and I simply said I couldn't do it because of my back pain. I just constantly worry others are going to think im playing the victim or using my pregnancy as an excuse not to do certain things. Which is not true at all. THe Constant running around doing everything at the moment alongside the strain on my back had me bed bound yesterday after I came home. I was exhausted from it. I couldn't even collect my child from school as I could hardly move.

Just feel like anytime I address certain things like this in work it causes an atmosphere. It's like I'm being 'difficult' for them because ive actually said to them how it is for me.

I'm so stressed and the atmosphere is pure eggshells at the moment as i think everyone's feeling the stress of lots of things at the moment.

But I either have to address that i can't do certain things or carry on like this & be in constant pain. Couldn't sleep at all last night due to the stress of having to face it all again today. So glad maternity leave is starting soon as I can't stand the stress of work anymore. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Am I overreacting 😢

OP posts:
RatherBeRiding · 24/09/2024 12:48

How long till mat leave starts? Maybe consider getting signed off sick by GP - or if you can't face your colleagues bitching about this, can you take mat leave earlier than planned? If all else fails, you will just have to be ruthless with work and say you physically cannot do XYZ because you are heavily pregnant so they will just have to suck it up! Brazen it out.

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 13:08

How many weeks are you Op?
Have you had a risk assessment carried out and reasonable adjustments suggested?

MotherJessAndKittens · 24/09/2024 13:11

You need a risk assessment ASAP.

FawnFrenchieMum · 24/09/2024 13:12

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 13:08

How many weeks are you Op?
Have you had a risk assessment carried out and reasonable adjustments suggested?

35, it literally says it first line of the OP.

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 13:15

FawnFrenchieMum · 24/09/2024 13:12

35, it literally says it first line of the OP.

Edited

It says 'I am currently working until 35 weeks pregnant'. It doesn't say how many weeks she is now, or can I not read properly?

halion · 24/09/2024 15:37

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 13:15

It says 'I am currently working until 35 weeks pregnant'. It doesn't say how many weeks she is now, or can I not read properly?

I am 33 weeks at the moment

OP posts:
FawnFrenchieMum · 24/09/2024 15:40

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 13:15

It says 'I am currently working until 35 weeks pregnant'. It doesn't say how many weeks she is now, or can I not read properly?

Ah yes apologies, between the 35 and the 8 months in the title, I wrongly believed this to be now.

readyforroundthree · 24/09/2024 15:40

halion · 24/09/2024 15:37

I am 33 weeks at the moment

Ok so you have another 2 weeks left until you go on maternity leave?
I don't think it's unreasonable that you refuse to lift boxes down from a height as they could be heavy and you could lose your balance, so I would definitely push back on this. Regarding covering the counter, are you not able to sit down whilst you do this rather than stand?
The other option is you start your maternity leave 2 weeks early, is that feasible for you?

Babycatsmummy · 24/09/2024 15:43

I had this issue too OP when I was working on a busy hospital ward. I was expected to pull out all
The equipment every morning and clean, some were not on wheels and extremely heavy. I had PGP and by 30 weeks really struggled. I asked my colleagues for help and was always told they were too busy and it was my job. I approached my manager and explained the situation and how I was feeling and was basically told if I couldn't do what was in my daily task list I'd be placed elsewhere. I saw my GP and got a letter and ended up working out of a back office doing admin which suited suited me much better x

halion · 24/09/2024 15:47

RatherBeRiding · 24/09/2024 12:48

How long till mat leave starts? Maybe consider getting signed off sick by GP - or if you can't face your colleagues bitching about this, can you take mat leave earlier than planned? If all else fails, you will just have to be ruthless with work and say you physically cannot do XYZ because you are heavily pregnant so they will just have to suck it up! Brazen it out.

Thanks for replying - i have about another 2 weeks until my mat leave date starts - I've taken remaining holidays to lessen the time I'm actually working from next week onwards (thank god) im so ready for it, simply because I'm so exhausted with working on top of everything else. Have already brought my mat leave date forward as I could feel myself getting this way from a few weeks ago. So I have kept managers etc informed with things. I know what it's like to be another employee working here with a pregnant person so can understand how pressurised people feel. But they aren't the ones doing their job in pain. Literally going to rest at every opportunity when I'm not in work from now on I think, I have no choice. Sometimes it just takes being abit more stern and more direct about what can & can't be done in work. If they can't understand that then tough !!! 🙈

OP posts:
Shoopyshoop · 24/09/2024 16:00

@halion when they did your initial pregnancy risk assessment what did it say? They are responsible for updating it as needed as your pregnancy progresses and if they can’t offer you suitable work by modifying your job role or offering alternative work they are obliged to suspend you on full pay (by law ) until your mat leave period kicks in.

Sara1988 · 24/09/2024 16:07

Do you have hr or a union? If so, go to them immediately. You need a risk assessment. This should have been done a long time ago.

You're not being unreasonable. They are. Don't let then push you into early mat leave or use up your annual leave because they're being so inconsiderate.

User79853257976 · 25/09/2024 09:56

halion · 24/09/2024 15:37

I am 33 weeks at the moment

If you’ve only got two more weeks I would try to just manage tasks as they come along and speak up when you can’t do things.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page