struggling at work - dont know what to do

[huskygirl]

i am just over 12 weeks pregnant and am really struggling at work. its my second child and i had severe pre-eclampsia with my first and am trying to do all i can to stay calm and relaxed, even though i know i cant prevent it happening again its just psycological! The trouble is work. I work 4 days a week in a busy supermarket cafe. i cannot escape the heat! if i serve the food its boiling behind the hot counter, if im on the till i'm stuck in the same place for hours on end and i cant do the pots because it involves a lot of twisting and lifting. when i first start work i'm ok but after 3 hours i'm exhausted and on the brink of tears. I do 6 hours a day with 2 15 minute breaks. the floor is always slippery and i'm spending most of the time trying to walk slowly and carefully not to slip. we're always short staffed and that puts us under a lot of stress. by the end of my shift i'm aching all over and it really worries me. i get home and have to go straight to bed. My friend suggested getting signed off but i feel bad because i'm not actually sick, its just that the work is really taking it out of me. Money is tight at the best of times so i'm not sure if my tax credits would increase if i cut my hours? but wouldnt the working tax bit go down? i'm so confused. i really admire the people that can do really long days, it makes me feel like i'm jus moaning!Just wondering if anyone had any suggestions. sorry so long!

Can you not change jobs throughout the day? bit on the till, bit doing pots and a bit serving food?
that might help a little. make sure you have a drink of water nearby so you can keep drinking plenty

If you really can't manage (and it sounds like you can't) go on the sick, there's nothing more important than the health of you and your baby. If (God forbid) anything should happen, you'd never forgive yourself for pushing it, and really, if you stress and push yourself, when you do go on mat leave, do you think anyone is going to say 'thankyou for working so late into your pg?' no. Look after yourself. Please.

I don't know about the tax stuff, sorry.

btw, if it makes you feel any better, I slogged it out with my first and got into trouble for not being able to do my job! i took most of the first three months off with my second until I stopped being sick and with my third, I had about 6 weeks off very early on, worked Christmas and New Year 2005/2006 then went on the sick at about 12 weeks and returned on New Years day this year. Some people didn't like it, but I recognised when I was not fit to work anymore and rested and do you know what? I'd do it again if I needed to.

If you are working six hours, shouldn't you be receiving a 30 minutes break, in one session, not at the beginning or end of a shift?

Have you tried talking to your manager/supervisor and giving them the opportunity to help you do your job? If your dept is already short-staffed, surely they would like to help people stay in the job rather than be signed off sick (for which they are unlikely to be able to get cover)?

There are health and safety concerns if the floor is "always slippery" and, as an employee, you are also responsible for ensuring you have a safe working environment.

I think you need to talk to your employer and/or union rep about your general working conditions.