Interesting one here...what would you do?

[april68]

I'm new to posting on here - I'll admit I've been lurking for a while, but an interesting situation has arisen where I work and I'm wondering how I should handle it. A colleague of mine is pregnant, though not due to start maternity leave yet. The employer has done a risk assessment, as they are required to do, and there is a small part of this woman's job which she can't do any more. Once she starts maternity leave, her post will be covered, but in the meantime, I've been asked to step in and cover this aspect of her job. What would you do in my shoes? I'm really torn because:

• it's a relatively small part of her job and therefore isn't going to kill me to do it
• on the other hand, I disagree with the principle that her pregnancy should impact negatively on anyone else's workload

but on the other hand it's not the fault of the employer who is carrying out their responsibility to do a risk assessment, and obviously can't afford to pay cover for this part of the job until the woman starts maternity leave. I'm aware that if the colleague was a friend of mine, I'd probably not have second thoughts about stepping in, but the fact is, this woman happens to be a PITA and would probably be very jobsworth if the boot was on the other foot IYSWIM. What should i do?

you're right for once April - no sympathy here on this one .

Go speak to your union if you are that uptight about it , would be interesting to see how far you get with it .

If I was in your shoes I would find it hard to do anything to help this woman out but I wouldn't have any choice. If you object to helping her then you are adopting the same attitude as her - its tempting but it's not just between you and her - it's an office matter so i guess you just have to get on with it and not contribute a lot of money if your office gives her a baby present!

Well the union would back me all the way I've no doubt about it. If you think I'm harsh, try talking to a union rep about getting someone to do someone else's job - they'd be having none of it! But I don't think it'll come to that. Management would no way force this on me - I've been asked because I'm good at my job and reliable which i guess i should take as a compliment . And LOL about the baby present - a lot of my colleagues have already said they won't be digging deep!

Absolutely bizarre ! You had the right to take time off for antental appointmenst - this woman has the right to have a risk assessment done !

But I dont know what job you are in and what union you belong to. But whatever union you are in I hope I never have the pleasure of having to join it or work with people like you that are narrow minded .

while you're doing the more physical bit of her job that she an't do could she do a bit of the non physical bit of your job? something like that? what is the nature of the job?

but like the others say, far easier, more helpful etc to find a way to sort this for all rather than pulling the union line.

cheers for that captain But I reckon if you joined my workplace you'd find PITA woman the most narrow minded person on the staff. Ruddynorah - I'm sure you're right - this woman should be offered alternative duties since she's still paid fully, and in theory she could do bits of my job. But I bet she won't LOL !

Beware the PITA woman. Every workplace has one. She will be the most career-driven, bossy, inflexible woman in the workforce. Until she falls pregnant whereupon she'll be totally flaky, expect everyone else to show 100% interest in her pregnancy and then return part time! (Duck and run to avoid fallout lol)

shocking generalisation there
maybe the woman is a PITA (only according) to april because she has an insubordinate who is difficult, regards pg as an inconvenience to other workers, and wants union representation if asked to be flexible in any way what so ever. thing is union representation and i presume it will be unison or GMB cuts both ways, so as well as you april asserting your case your boss can also assert her legitimate case too. no union will instruct a pg woman to contravene a risk assessment

Please don't get drive yourself mad about this. You say you are good and reliable at your job - so perhaps view this extra addition as another part of your job. Do you really want to get a reputation for being a jobsworth? If you do this extra thing, willingly and with a good heart, mention it in your appraisal, the higher-ups will notice (hopefully) and maybe a pay-rise (well, we can dream). If it was me, i would do it with gritted teeth and count down the days till she goes (and be pleased she will be out of the way for a good few months, possibly a year and maybe permanently!!).