Time off!

[Kimberley2203]

Hi,
I'm really worried about having time off work my boss does t know I'm pregnant yet as I was waiting for my scan I'm currently 8weeks and I'm exhausted. I'm not sleeping at night it's currently 2:45 & I've managed to get an hour or two! I'm a staff nurse & work 12.5 hour shifts in a busy department, so no time for naps, my boss is not the most supportive and I had time off last Christmas with a chest infection & was penalised for it. I'm worried that This will happen again.

I'm don't want to have time off but don't want to put myself, baby or the people I look after at risk either. Any other nurses have any advice ?!

Thank you xxx

In your situation, the sooner you state you are pg, the sooner you have protection in law. Currently your boss can get funny with you because they can reasonably state they didn't know you are pg, you hadn't told them.

As you know pregnancy is a protected circumstance, meaning that if you have pg-related illness, it is ring fenced from your regular sickness records.

Also if you have exhaustion due to excessive hours, once your boss knows you are expecting, they can start to plan for some adaptations such as reduced duration shifts, which enable you to keep working but at a pace more appropriate to your pregnancy stage.

A 12.5 hour shift is like 8am to 8.30pm - that's excessive even for someone not pregnant! That could endanger your health and your baby's. They need to know.

You need to tell your employer. When I was pregnant, I was so exhausted that I actually had a nap at work when I was supposed to be working! I did tell them in the end and they were really supportive. You will be fine! Also you have more right once you declare your pregnancy to them. Good luck :)