Is this a 'reasonable adjustment' at work or AIBU? Please help

[Olivetrees2]

Im a primary teacher and 26 weeks pregnant. It's my third, was unexpected and I've had a bit of a rough time of it TBH. I had hyperemesis through the first trimesterand still getting some nausea and vomiting. I have been exhausted- far more so than with my first two. By the time I'm home, I can barely move some nights. With working with 5/6 year olds and my immune system being down, I am getting lots of colds which are causing me to feel breathless, with an increased heart rate and feeling like I can't get enough breath.
I've been struggling with my mental health for a while and am getting CPD. I have been booking my appointments during my PPA (planning time) and doing my planning time that evening to make up for it. I did book these times to cause as little inconvenience as possible, however there is staff meeting after school that day. It would be an hour and a half round trip to go back to work for an hour long meeting when I'm exhausted at the end of the day. I have asked if I can attend via Zoom, but this has been declined with my boss saying Zooms affect his own mental health and can't do them. I do not want to negatively affect his MH, but after researching, I do feel this could/should be a reasonable adjustment.

What are your thoughts?

I don't know about that but from now omwards start making your appointments at more convenient times for you. Not in your ppa and not when you'd need to return.

Yanbu and definitely book appointments when convenient for you so you can have your planning time.

How does having one laptop in the meeting room, with one person on the screen affect his mental health? 😳

I’m a HR Director in a tech company (very different to a school I know - but the basics should be the same!) and we would absolutely consider this a reasonable adjustment. Have they done a risk assessment yet? Not that you’d need to justify it this way but I’m sure they’d rather you be on a Zoom call for a staff meeting than off on long term sick leave because you’re just utterly burnt out..! I also absolutely agree with PPs - you’re legally entitled to paid time off for antenatal appointments, whenever they happen to be. Make sure they work for you, not your employer

I’m a high school teacher and had all my maternity appointments on a Monday afternoon. I was always teaching. I would set cover work but I would never of gone back into work. My scans were on given days so I just told school that it when they were! I would get advice from your union. Also have they done a risk assessment? If so you can ask them to update it!

The problem with different times is he had previously asked me to cancel them and said I had to arrange my CBT at a time out of work hours, which isn't possible. The mental health midwife had to email him to say that they are part of my maternity care and I should be allowed to attend them.

There are union guidelines for your protection during pregnancy. Take a look. May not cover this exact issue but you could seek advice and support from your rep or local office.
Sounds like a very reasonable request to me.

He has done a risk assessment which said that reasonable adjustments should be made, but he's choosing to ignore this now I'm actually requesting it.

The risk assessment also stated that I should be allowed proper rest breaks, but I keep getting snide comments from him because I have not been going to 'optional' staff briefing on a Wednesday lunchtime due to tiredness.

I'm on a temporary contract, so I'm really worried about rocking the boat too much, but at the same time, I can't carry on like this.

It should be reasonable adjustment and your boss sounds absolutely vile. I'm sorry you are going through this OP.

He sounds like a pain!

I would politely but firmly remind him that reasonable adjustments must be made during this period (for you, not for him!). If he is really so allergic to zoom (what on earth?!) surely someone else in the room can dial you in. Or you simply don’t go and someone has to fill you in afterwards!

Good luck and remember this really is a time to put yourself first.

If its a temporary contract it doesn't sound like he will renew it so just suit yourself

Thanks for replies, I'll try and be more assertive about it tomorrow with an extra person in the room.

If Zoom does actually impact his mental health (and I’m not sure it does) what risk assessment and formal adjustment has been put in by HR for him? Surely he can’t perform in his job if this is the case

I get that some managers do like people to all in the office at the same time at certain times however this is absolutely a time your reasonable adjustments top any of his made up ones