Can a pregnant woman be excused from her usual duties because she is tired?

[GloriaInEleusis]

Don't want to give too many details here as prefer not to be identified in RL.

But, she is in the second trimester and is complaining that she can not take a one to two hour flight to go to the project site. This is a normal part of her job. She says she can't do it. Other people in the office are getting fed up with all of her special requests.

And if she can legally refuse to do her job, can her employer require a sick note from the GP? Can she be replaced (i.e. her project given to another employee while she does something else from her usual desk keeping in mind something else might not be as rewarding as the job she does now)? Is is important that person responsible for this project appear on site from time to time, and she has all but refused to go.

But forty, if she can't do her job than isn't it only fair that she have a doctor back up that fact?

sorry, frosty.

If she is unable to carry out her normal duties you can offer her alternative ones or send her home and pay her. I would ask her to see her GP or get Occupational Health to assess her fitness for work. You need her on side for this but if she knows it will lead to not having to travel she may be willing.

We all experience different pregnancies and I don't think being judgemental will help your case! Be friendly and supportive and you might get her to agree to take on a different role. You can then put a temp into her job or move someone else internally who would like a chance to prove themselves? Difficult to know without knowing more about the organisation.

But you can't send someone home and pay them without a doctor's note!

At least, in most employers.

That's a legal part of the contract.

There has to be a medical reason.

That's the problem I have with this.

She's been given a risk assessment.

Now if she's not fit to do the job, a healthcare professional needs to certify that.

I mean, you need a form signed by a midwife to draw maternity leave pay.

You need a note from the doctor if you're ill and have to stay off work.

So what's the difference?

I agree she should see her dr. I do but more for my own protection iykwim - otherwise I worry they'll think i'm putting it on!

Well, exactly, frosty.

Because sadly, pregnant and not pregnant, female and male, some folks do put on.

That's why there have to be procedures in place to safeguard not just hte employer, but the other employees who have to pick up the slack.

She needs to be aware that her behaviour is going to seriously piss her colleagues off. And whilst she may be entitled to all kinds of things, if she intends to return to work at a later stage, she does not want to leave a bad feeling behind her. Believe me! My 3 maternity leaves were bad enough for making me less than popular amongst some of my male colleagues, but I always made sure I pulled my weight while I could. I left everything as completed as possible, plenty of documentation and I made it clear I was available to deal with major problems even when on leave.

Best not to fart in your own bed if you are getting back into it.

As far as starting her mat leave early, you can't do this until 4 weeks before her ewc and only if the absence if pregnancy related.

Up until that point you have to pay her time off as sick. In your instance, I'd tell her to go the docs

I agree with expat, a woman at work recently totally took the piss whilst pg. very few full weeks, not turning up until 10.30 because she was 'tired'. She got very little sympathy and a small present when she went off

agree with expat

some people feel more tired and more overwhelmed in their pregnancies than others. Some feel less able to cope with a job that they could previously do easily. I think none of you are being very understanding to this woman. What if she is too tired to go on a flight and do this job?

if I were here I would go to the doctors and get signed off. It sounds a horrible environment to work in.

(fwiw I am pregnant, and my boss has said that if I find anything too tiring, I just have to let her know. I am allowed to come in on a later train if i want for example. I am not taking the piss, I am not sick, I am just finding it extremely tough this time, we are not all the same. )

you're pg pollyanna? had missed that! x

Polly, some people do have a rough time and are unable to work when they are pregnant. However, as far as I know, this woman is not one of them.

When she handed in her notice of maternity leave plans she piped up "but I can come back whenever I want to you know". Okay, that's true. But she really is going round pissing everyone off with her me me me I am pregnant and I am special attitudes.

Ormirian, I completely agree with you. The things she says she wants are things she is entitled to, but she is cutting off her nose to spite her face. Nobody in the office is going to welcome her back with open arms. AND, she is not exactly a model worker in the first place. There is plenty of cause for concern on valid grounds when it comes to her job performance. So she really isn't doing herself any favours.

I agree with expat. The woman is taking the mick.

I too know. I had a very difficult pregnancy too. Last week, I was admitted for a week, to stabilise my diabetes and they thought I had miscarried. I came to work the next day - my choice, to do month end.
I had my miscarriage confirmed today, and am back at my desk.
We all feel tired. Some pregnancies are more difficult than others. But that is not the point. If she can't do the job, then get herself signed off.
And that is not unsympathetic, that is supposrtive of both employee and employer.
I think people are having a go, saying that's not a nice plaxce to work, when that is not the point.

So sorry oblomov

i think by being understanding you could (as employer) could get a better deal. a little flexibility could avoid weeks/months of sick leave.

so sorry oblomov

Thank you everyone. Don't be sad for me. I am 'all cried out', a while ago.
But my point remains, I do sympathise with the woman, but if she can't / won't do her job , then arrangements must be made.

I was knackered and often drove 4 hours a day when in latter stages of pregnancy

And flew for work (and leisure)

I think some people just like taking advantage of a situation

I feel sorry for people like this, if they think they are knackered when pg how are they going to deal with the really exhausing time after the baby is born!!

with dd i was less knackered after she was born than in the later stages of pg! i got more sleep then! yes really!

honestly, all this "well i did it so everyone should" is so insufferably priggish and self-righteous.

it's like saying "why can't everyone breastfeed". imho.

But surely if you are so ill you can't perform your usual duties then you should be signed off sick or agree to change your role

Is it her first pregnancy? I remember being utterly self obsessed at times (still worked 70 hour weeks mind you and flew mind you but am workaholic)

Call her bluff - next time she cracks on about being tired play the 'check for anemia" card. She'll either go for the check and find out she is in which case she'll get treatment or she isn't in which case you have grounds to say "yes pg can be hard work, you just have to push through"; or she won't and you can tell her to either get it checked or shut up and get on the plane

"or shut up and get on the plane" Nice

yes but cd, you could be signed off sick for weeks or months, but a little flexibility on the employers part could avoid that and be a win for both sides?