Covid and pregnancy in office

[GirlMum93]

Hi all

Looking for just advice really.
Everyone is literally falling down with covid in my office. Some I've been sat close with and sharing kitchen with. There is a much more laid back attitude now towards covid especially in our office, no one in masks etc. I understand as we are all wanting to get back to normal.

Only thing is I'm 25 weeks pregnant. And I'm not due to leave on maternity until early July. I'm still expecting in but I'm so nervous. I am fully vaccinated.

We are an office of about 60 people. We have now been asked to all be in minimum 3 days a week.

Would you still come in even if you felt uncomfortable ?

Have you been vaccinated?

Can you do your job from home effectively? And do you trust your colleagues to tell people if they’ve tested positive and not come into the office if they are displaying symptoms (of anything not just covid) or someone in their house has tested positive?

Ultimately you don’t want to get covid and need to be more careful as you’re pregnant, that is non negotiable. It is harder now lateral flow tests are less available but I think it comes down to trust and people being respectful, and that doesn’t necessarily mean wearing masks.

I’m 35 weeks pregnant now and was going into the office regularly until 9th April, including a commute into London on the tube etc. My team were considerate, tested regularly and stayed away if they were unwell. I then got covid from my less considerate in laws.

I am now WFH, I would have done another couple of weeks of commuting but it’s a bit much now and I’m working on another project with an overseas team so it’s a bit easier.

I was lucky with my colleagues but it seems more widespread in your office, so I would speak to your line manager about working from home more if you can. I was really unwell for 10 days even though I’m fully vaccinated and the potential risks aren’t worth it.

I'd make sure I was fully up to date with boosters and I'd wear an FFP-2 mask whenever the office was packed or I felt I was too close to other people.

Sorry, missed the fully vaxxed bit.

Your employer should be doing/have done a risk assessment for your working environment - I assume this should include covid risks too? I would suggest that you should work from home as often as possible, particularly once your 3rd trimester starts.

Even if you're triple-vaccinated, protection will be starting to wane now and it's not worth the risk, particularly if there is a viable alternative (wfh).

@Geneticsbunny

Have you been vaccinated?

Yep I've had all my vaccinations.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask the question or even ask to wft an extra day to minimise risk. I’m not pregnant but still wearing a mask in busy communal areas!

@TashieWoo

Can you do your job from home effectively? And do you trust your colleagues to tell people if they’ve tested positive and not come into the office if they are displaying symptoms (of anything not just covid) or someone in their house has tested positive?

Ultimately you don’t want to get covid and need to be more careful as you’re pregnant, that is non negotiable. It is harder now lateral flow tests are less available but I think it comes down to trust and people being respectful, and that doesn’t necessarily mean wearing masks.

I’m 35 weeks pregnant now and was going into the office regularly until 9th April, including a commute into London on the tube etc. My team were considerate, tested regularly and stayed away if they were unwell. I then got covid from my less considerate in laws.

I am now WFH, I would have done another couple of weeks of commuting but it’s a bit much now and I’m working on another project with an overseas team so it’s a bit easier.

I was lucky with my colleagues but it seems more widespread in your office, so I would speak to your line manager about working from home more if you can. I was really unwell for 10 days even though I’m fully vaccinated and the potential risks aren’t worth it.

I can do my Job from home fine. I am expecting in just to sort out department post.

Everyone is in even if they have covid symptoms. Woman I sit next to has tested positive for covid a couple of days after I saw her along with someone behind me.

Our office PA and a couple of directors have also come down with covid but they have been in and around the office and kitchen. It's really tricky

@OnceuponaRainbow18

It wouldn’t hurt to ask the question or even ask to wft an extra day to minimise risk. I’m not pregnant but still wearing a mask in busy communal areas!

Me too- I'm wearing masks in supermarkets and shops

@Miller2021

Your employer should be doing/have done a risk assessment for your working environment - I assume this should include covid risks too? I would suggest that you should work from home as often as possible, particularly once your 3rd trimester starts.

Even if you're triple-vaccinated, protection will be starting to wane now and it's not worth the risk, particularly if there is a viable alternative (wfh).

Thank you @Miller2021 that's what I have thought also.

Maybe you could wear a mask and face shield at work

@GirlMum93 I think they’re being really irresponsible to still come in with symptoms, same as if they had the flu or norovirus. Is your line manager approachable and fair?

I think they should sort their own post for a little while!

I'm not in the UK so not up to date with your rules, but its extremely irresponsible and arrogant to go into the office having tested positive if you have a pregnant college.

I'm fully vaccinated and boostered and have still managed to catch it this week - had close contact all day with four clients who then tested positive the next day. Your pregnancy risk assessment needs redoing in light of the UK's current COVID-19 rules and the increased risks to pregnant women as compared to the general population.

Speak to your manager about your company policy. We would do a risk assessment and probably allow you to work at home for remainder of your pregnancy

I have made it clear for all my staff - do not come into the office if you have symptoms of covid. We had someone who came in on Monday with symptoms, apparently tested negative on Sunday. Then tests positive Monday. I was furious as we can work at home, and that’s the instruction to staff. Even coughs and colds I’ve asked staff to work at home for now.

My work have been very sensible and said you are not allowed to come into the office with cold or flu symptoms, even if you've tested negative. We can all do our jobs from home and the office has been almost completely empty for the last two years, so they're trying to encourage people back without risking people getting sick (which is bad for productivity).

Are people really going into your office Covid positive? I'm honestly shocked. I know we've just stopped testing and the government would like us all to forget about it (and therefore partygate), but people are still getting really ill. It seems mad to risk your staff like that.

@TulipsGarden, in my office, we have to go in even if Covid positive. If you're bedbound with it then obviously not, but they're ridiculously cavalier about it.

I'm 10wks pregnant and only allowed to WFH if doing overtime, otherwise going into the office is absolutely non-negotiable. They're very reluctant to even look at things on a case-by-case basis, because if one person gets to WFH for medical reasons (including pregnancy), others will ask to 🙄 It's nuts.

@BeautyGoesToBenidorm That's terrible, I'm so sorry you have to work somewhere so irresponsible.

DS was hospitalised with Covid and the paediatrician told us it was imperative he avoid pregnant women or those who are immunosuppressed. I’m triple jabbed and I’m pretty sure I’m coming down with it now which is a shame because both my sisters are pregnant at the moment and we had hoped to see them next week.

Unfortunately, the end of testing and changes to NHS advice is going to make this even more difficult for you.

Have you spoken to your manager/ HR? Are you part of a union?

If you are worried, are you wearing a mask to/from work and in the office?

I would ask if you could wfh until this current wave is over (hopefully) 2/3 weeks, then most will have had it and you should feel more comfortable. It’s really weird where my son works, about 40 office staff, 7 got covid 3 weeks ago, but since then no further cases.

@Darbs76

I have made it clear for all my staff - do not come into the office if you have symptoms of covid. We had someone who came in on Monday with symptoms, apparently tested negative on Sunday. Then tests positive Monday. I was furious as we can work at home, and that’s the instruction to staff. Even coughs and colds I’ve asked staff to work at home for now.

I wish you were more like my boss.

No one in my office is wearing masks anymore. I am very much the odd one out with mine on but I'm also the only pregnant one!! Even in supermarkets now I can't even see 1 person wearing one.

@SpringRainbow

Unfortunately, the end of testing and changes to NHS advice is going to make this even more difficult for you.

Have you spoken to your manager/ HR? Are you part of a union?

I haven't spoken to him but equally he hasn't reassured me I don't need to come in. I'm pressured to come in at least 2/3 times a week just to sort out the post otherwise I can do my job from Home.