Pregnant and on call

[qaqpap]

If you have a pregnant woman working 9-5 Mon-Fri is it reasonable to expect her to be on call outside of these hours for 7 days a week every 1 in 5 weeks, as well as covering additional on call when colleagues go off sick etc?

On call is not paid but contractual.

Hey, you might get more answers if you post in chat or AIBU.

@Usernamqwerty thanks, I will post in chat

I don't think it's unreasonable just because you're pregnant. I did this, although most times I got a full night's sleep. Sometimes I was up half the night, and then did a full day's work the next day. I also did normal night shifts. Plenty of times I was tired but tbf plenty of times a full time job with on call and/or night shift is tiring if you're not pregnant.

I’ve done a similar on call rota. I don’t think being pregnant would be an automatic exemption but if you have a rough night I’d hope for some flexibility from your boss the next day. Have you told them you’re pregnant? I think everyone is entitled to a risk assessment, and I’d expect this to be part of it.

The default would be you do it, unless you have a good reason not to. Pregnancy of itself is not a reason not to fulfil your contract.

What does on call involve? Not never
Scarily unreasonable to be on call, but may need arrangements if there is lifting or using equipment or products that are not safe in pregnancy.
I work in a female heavy industry where on call is normal and people do their on call as normal, but with some arrangements made for lifting and certain handling.

On call for all care services/staff in the area (24 hour services). Responding to emergencies, debriefing, managing absences, covering sickness, dealing with any safeguarding concerns, sorting out any medication problems etc. As part of this we have to be available to go out at any point if needed.
Due to the nature of the role, this happens a lot and can spend all day on the phone problem solving while on call unfortunately. Most weekends are really bad.
Just trying to understand if this is reasonable while pregnant as last pregnancy did not do on call.

Surely that’s not allowed in terms of rest breaks you’re allowed 11hrs min rest between shifts.

depends on how senior and we’ll paid you are too.

Certain occupations do not follow that directive, healthcare, nurses, doctors are all exempt from it. Try working in a hospital and being on shift AND then on call… happens all the time

@qaqpap so you need to discuss this on your risk assessment. We put in place different measures for different people. I had a member of staff who go very tired so we brought in a different schedule for her.

Most jobs people just carry on unless eg lots lifting

Honestly in my company pregnant people get excluded from tasks that require lifting or handling dangerous equipment. It sounds like the on call is just a standard part of the role and I would see no reason why you should be excepted.

Bring pregnant doesn't give you the excuse to get out of any bits of the role that are hard ! ( unfortunately)

Why would pregnancy make a difference does the baby have a clock of time as well?

Again it is not a 'get out of life card' just because of pregnancy

You need to go through a maternity risk assessment with your manager.

Just being pregnant alone shouldn’t preclude you from on-call. It very much depends on your health and well-being overall, and the nature of the on-call duties.

That is not entirely accurate. They are not exempt at all. They are (where appropriate for continuity of service) excepted. That means that the laws on breaks are more flexible, in that they can work longer / have less time off between shifts; but they must be given compensatory rest at another time.

In terms of pregnancy, whilst it is true that pregnancy in and of itself should not affect on call duties, the length of the working day should be part of the risk assessment undertaken; and I would be very dubious as to whether it would be a good idea for someone who is pregnant to be on call for so many hours in addition to the working week.

Does being pregnant mean you can't?

If you're doing the same thing as you do in your day job there's no reason why you suddenly can't do it after hours.
If you have debilitating fatigue etc then as part of a reduction in hours, no on-call might be a reasonable adjustment but that is to be discussed r.e. specific symptoms in pregnancy, not just the fact of 'being pregnant'.
As PP said you need to do a proper maternity risk assessment.

I thought it would be clear that I am not just referring to simply being pregnant, but rather that a pregnant woman has to do on call regardless of the effects on her health.
I am struggling with sickness and fatigue and just about managing to get through my ordinary working hours let alone when I am on call on top. I had a pretty horrendous on call week last time, head in the toilet while the phone is non stop ringing, and couldn't even nap after my sleep was disturbed through the night because the calls started at 7am. I was essentially working for free all weekend and no days off to compensate, so felt like I was working 12 days on the trot without a break.

I am worried that after raising concerns about it during my risk assessment I am being told I have to carry on like this until mat leave when I am already struggling. It is not about using pregnancy as an excuse to get out of the hard bits of the job!

I think you need to see gp and get a sick note, or call in sick on the days that you can't do it.

You can also ask your employer for an occupational health assessment

You didn't mention any difficulties which is why the answer to your initial OP would be yes. Every woman is different and while some sail through pregnancy others such as yourself have it harder which is why the condition by itself is meaningless.

Clearly you are having difficulties which is why this should be documented via formal process which PP have already mentioned.

Unfortunately no matter what anybody else here says if your employers insist on forcing you there's nothing any of us can do but you need to escalate. ACAS, Pregnant then Screwed are good organisations to contact who can help you.

I'm not sure how you think it would have been clear, given that you said none of that.

You will need to go to your GP and explain this. You will need the doctor to make it explicitly clear that the work is making you ill and causing a risk to the pregnancy.

You need to speak to Occ Health. Doing shift work and on call when pregnant is NOT the same as when you are not pregnant. https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/pregnant-women-who-work-nights-may-have-a-greater-risk-of-miscarriage/

How often are you disturbed between midnight and 6am? And is it mostly phone calls from home or do you need to travel?
My job involves 9-5 and on call after. Call out involves leaving the house and attending work each time though. We get compensatory rest if called between midnight and 6am. Most people continue with this commitment until at least 3rd trimester usually over 30 weeks really.
Maybe discuss the impact and if compensatory rest is available as a compromise. Only you can decide if you aren't fit enough to do it though.

I did the same responsibilities when pregnant, I was taken off the on-call duties at 6 months pregnant, however I didn't do 9-5 I did shifts so was often doing 7-11 during the day. Your supervisor can amend your risk assessment as you go on through your pregnancy, but pregnancy alone is often not enough to remove you from front line duties if there is no added risk to you or others by performing them while pregnant.

Hey OP. Completely understand where you are coming from. Ignore the negative comments. Everyone's experience of pregnancy differs.
First, if they have done a pregnancy risk assessment, you can request another one when your situation changes. Also, I suggest you read up your rights on the Health & Safety Executive and ACAS in relation to work and pregnancy.
Do you have occupational health at your work? If so, ask for a referral.
Good luck xx