Partner's work want to send him 8+ hours away around time of birth

[Magurndy12]

Hi,

I really need some urgent advice. My partner works as a software consultant and it is in his contract that he can be moved to where ever in the country. His work are aware that I am 33 weeks pregnant and also that I have just come out of hospital with respiratory and cardiac issues.
They want to send him 8+ hours away from me until I am 39 weeks. The location they are sending him to is also very remote, the last train for example is at 3.30pm. He doesn't drive and even if they got him a taxi it's actually longer on the road than by rail.

Now we all know that baby's may come when they want and there is a good chance he could miss the birth if the baby does decide to come before the 39 week mark. Not only this but I have no family less than 2 hours away, I don't have my parents and his are an hour and half away. My other potential birth partner is in Portugal until 39 weeks as well (we all know she may risk missing it). Being I've only moved here a year ago I dont have any real close friends that can step in.

They took him out of his previous place of work earlier than he was told and now they want to send him purely to make a couple more grand before the end of the year. They will not lose any contract or suffer significant financial issues as a result of not sending him, they even told him it's purely to make as much money as possible before the end of the year.

From what I gather, their request although technically possible in his contract is highly unreasonable. He was also only given about two weeks notice of it being a possibility and if they confirm it tomorrow, they want him there next week.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

I would get a letter from your GP and/or midwife (to be addressed to their Occ Health or HR Dept) stating that due to the close proximity in time to the baby's due date, and in consideration of your very recent health issues (cardiovascular and respiratory), they recommend that your DP is not sent on detached duty until after the birth. To do so is highly risky to you and your unborn child given neither of you have any extended family support in place to assist in the case of an emergency.

Your DP should tell them tomorrow so they know in advance what the situation is officially. I expect they will reconsider their priority for a few grand over the potential risk of an emergency happening, as they could be held liable for going against the recommendation of your HCP.

That's actually not a bad idea! Thanks. I think my midwife is in tomorrow so I will contact her and see what can be done in that respect. They never found out the exact cause of my recent hospital stay but I was in for five days with a high heart rate, this was before the stress of this started so the stress of it is going to exasperate it.

Sorry meant to say your DP can say that the letter from your HCP will be provided in the next x days (depending on how quickly you can collect it from the surgery.

The other alternative could be an email to your email account, from your GP which could then be forwarded to his employer. Our GP is always very flexible about sending emails nowadays especially at times of emergency.

Hi! Firstly as I have a husband who works as a consultant contractor I know how difficult these things can be BUT...1. He simply can’t do that trip when you’re 39 weeks pregnant unless you’re both prepared for him not to be at the birth (I suspect you’re not!). So he has to tell them this isn’t possible even though this means they will have the right to sever his contract (I know this wouldn’t happen to my DH but it is possible). 2. Unless there is a reason he can’t drive (medical reason) your DH REALLY needs to learn to drive.

That's a great idea, thanks. Hopefully they will be able to provide something along the lines of this.