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.

Sorry oblomov.

BTW, this person is not my employee.

So, have I got this right, if she is unable to do her job because of pregnancy related ailments, then it is right and fair to ask her to get a doctor's note excusing her from duty. And, if that happens, she can go on sick leave. And her terms for pay will be whatever is the usual company policy for sick pay.

Heated topic....

I used to sleep in the conference room when no one was there. I used to have to park and walk around the car on the commute to work, to wake up and then puke in the plastic bag I kept under my seat.

I had a lovely boss and I did work about 10 hours unpaid every week, so there was some give and take.

If it's a medical problem I agree with Expat.

if anyone had told me to shut up and get on a plane during my dreadful pg with dd, i would have said, ok then bye see you after my mat leave is up.

that's how i understand the situation, eleusis.

Yes, so formally request to re-define the role! Rather than just picking and choosing what to do randomly.

formally request to redefine the role what, instead of having conf calls instead of site visits? seems an easy one to sort imo.

NO ONE is saying 'I did it, so you should to' but instead saying if you are that tired, then you need to see a doctor to find out why/get signed off.

Not every job is flexible enough to say, 'Well, if you find it to tiring, just let me know' or 'Come in later if you feel like it.'

I worked as a phone operator. If I wasn't going to be there, it was part of my contract that I inform the boss w/i thirty minutes of my start time because someone needs to man the phones.

Most jobs are like this.

I don't see where it's cruel or unsympathetic to inform someone that if they are incapable of doing a job they need a medical note of that.

In fact, it's in most peoples' contracts.

In which case, Eleusis, have you checked with HR and gone over her contract?

bllx, epis, the air is filled with the stench of burning martyr

No need for snorting

At least if she did that then there would be no question over it and everyone else could be told. Then there wouldn't be all this resentment and hoo hah

Sounds to me from eleusis saying "fed up with all her special requests" that there is more to it than not wanting to fly

It's not always possible to conference call rather than site visit, and this might not be what the client, who is paying everyone's bills, is contracted for.

and snorting high horses

What, it's bollocks that at some jobs you can't just swan off because you're tired without a doctor's note?

Show me one!

I'd like to work there!

Like I said, I was a phone operator and I had to bring in doctor's notes if I needed my duties to be changed because of my physical condition.

That was even in the employment contract.

Otherwise, everyone would be doing it!

It's not called being a burning martyr bk, it's called doing your job. And if you can't do it, you need to let your employer find someone who can.

I had a lovely boss and great colleagues, and knew what happens when someone didn't pull their weight.

Also, she may need them for a referee one day.

Something to keep in mind.

NO ONE is saying 'I did it, so you should to'

that's the bolleaux bit. seems to me quite a few people are saying that.

i agree that the person in question should get a doctor's cert - to protect herself if nothing else.

ormirian, i rest my case.

I don't see it that way, bossy. I see it as, if you're ill enough to not be able to do your job, then get a note so your employer can get someone in who can.

well, i think we're all agreed that a sick note is required

???

bundle I'm in denial

I'm amazed that so many posters seem to be so very judgemental about pg women asking for reduced / different duties. Thought that all the legal entitlements etc would be seen as a welcome thing by mumsnetters. Women beware women!

every pregnancy is different. Some people cope better with pregnancy than others. but...

Pregnancy is not an illness.

Yes some people have illnesses brought on by pregnancy, but pregnancy itself is not an illness.

So if she is ill, then she should be signed off work. If she is not, then she should be doing the job she is being paid to do.

sorry, it is not a "coping" issue. it is to do with having different pregnancies.

of course it's about coping. Because if this woman is so ill she is unable to work then she should be at home on sick leave. And again...

pregnancy is not an illness.

But is is also an issue that some people will always take advantage

Eg we had two people on a project that I am working on who had to have foot operations (oddly!) at the same time. We were at a crucial stage of the project

One of them organised taxis in paid for by the company and was on strong painkillers and crutches, managed to make all the relevant meetings and was generally a star.

The other (whose operation was less involved in fact) was off for weeks and only came back when she could walk again. She lived closer to the office than the other one too.

The first one was committed to her job
The second wasn't