Feeling victimised at work

[Clove20]

I have been experiencing the worst treatment in my work place over the last 6 months. I have worked for the company since April 2018, and all has been fine (including receiving lots of positive feedback) until I got a new manager in October 2019. Several things have happened but I'll try keep it short.

1. In January I was told by my manager that my work wasn't "up to standard" and since then I have sent 4 emails to my manager asking for support to "get upto standard". She has not replied to any of my emails regarding this, but still criticising my work and making me do some stuff over and over again until she's happy with it (none of my work can go anywhere until manager authorises it).

1. In February, she refused to authorise my leave request for a day in the half term week because "another member of the team might want time off that week"

1. In March I found out I was pregnant just before the country went in lockdown. And 3 days before the lockdown I was telling her how worried I was about Covid and the pregnancy. I was only 6 weeks pregnant at the time, and because there was no guidance being sent out about how we work safely I told her I would seek some health advise. (My job is a public facing role and we hot desk). She asked me to provide her with written evidence of the health advise I got and the pregnancy. My GP practice was not offering anything apart from a telephone consultation and they asked me to ring 111 for any Covid related advise. So I told my manager that they wouldn't offer me an appointment until I was 8 weeks pregnant. Her response to me was "health are unlikely to see you until you're 12 weeks as it's not deemed as viable".

1. When schools were closed as part of the lockdown, we were asked to work from home. Since that time I've continuously said to her that I was struggling with working from home and homeschooling/generally looking after a 6 year old. She offered me no support or guidance other than at one point sending me an email to say there's an expectation that I work from 9-5 with a 34 mins break. I told her that my partner is a key worker and he still had to work so it was just me on my own at home.

1. I then had a total of 5 weeks off between April and June because of hyperemesis (severe morning sickness) and scaitica which my GP also thinks was pregnancy related because I've never had it. And on my first day back she told me I had triggered my absence for sickness and would need to book a meeting. And then spent the rest of my return interview asking me why certain things weren't done, and after I said to her that I had been off for 5 weeks and before then I'd been telling her I was struggling...her response was "you didn't tell me it would impact on your work"

The stuff I've explained amongst other things which I've been writing down over the last 6 months has really affected my confidence in what I'm doing at work and the constant negative feedback I'm getting from her is affecting me. I guess I'm Abit more sensitive with pregnancy hormones.

I find myself asking if I've read too much into what she's said and done, or if I should be raising this all because it's wrong.

Please advice

Are you in a union? It does sound like bullying to me - and if you're pregnant you are definitely more protected if you're off sick due to the pregnancy.

You have two choices - quit, or fight back.

If you choose to fight back, you need to cover your arse on every point, making sure you can't be picked up on anything.

1. No more time off sick
2. Under any pretence at all, copy someone else into your emails with her
3. When you have meetings with her / she says something to you, email her under the guise of 'did I understand this correctly?'
4. Buckle in. You need support of others to get through this so cultivate your relationships with others.

Good luck 👍

1. She had told you that your work is not up to standard and asking you to redo the work to her satisfaction is one way of getting you to the standard. She must be giving you hints if you are redoing it to a better standard.

2 A bit tight but perhaps she held other info in her head about holidays?

3 unpleasant comment but it is her word against yours sadly.

4 Not her problem sorry

1. But as you were off sick for 5 weeks how many weeks of working are you referring to? She can discuss your absence but as it is pregnancy related it can't be counted against you.

She sounds a bit direct and could be more empathetic. But we can't choose who manages us and if they have good or poor personal skills. Is there anyone at work you can talk to for some moral support?

She sounds like a horrible bully. Pregnancy related illness can't be held against you. Take out a grievance against her for bullying and pregnancy discrimination. I wouldn't meet with her without somebody else present.

You could try posting in chat or on the pregnancy boards for more replies. I think you've been very unfairly treated.