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Original poster

Feeling pressured to agree for lone work whilst pregnant

38 replies

Seasidegirly94 · 20/12/2024 17:06

Hi everyone, so I’ve just found myself to be in a bit of a pickle with work and this is my back story to the situation I’m in.

I’ve worked for a cleaning company that does second homes and holiday lets on the coast for the past 4 years. I joined just as the business had started and over the years it has grown dramatically, I do believe we have over 150+ properties that we clean with a team of 10 people, 2 of them work on a friday only. Its casual hours zero hour contract, 20p more than minimum wage.
It the beginning it was great as it the workload wasn’t as crammed.

Fast forward to now, and I am now 7 weeks pregnant. I’ve had a risk assesment where I’ve also been told I don’t have to work on my own anymore so I was relieved as the bosses are used to me doing 4 bedroom 4 bathroom ‘mansions’ on my own as it’s great for me to ‘make my hours’ and realistically they save money on having to just pay me not 2 people doing the same job basically.
Now, I’ve been poorly with sickness and struggling with basically not being as physically fit and quick and on it as what they’re used to. I had to call in sick yesterday as the boss has sent the list for the properties she needed doing and there was 4 houses in total to be completed between 3 people.
I said it’s too much for me right now and the reply from the boss was that’s how they arrange the list, they look at it as basically all of it being completed in 4h and she asked if that’s too much for me then, I said we don’t know the state of the houses till we get there and that you’re not the ones doing the cleaning but us and often times the houses need more time than that and that’s fine, but not right now for me whilst I’m pregnant and sick; the argument was that perhaps I could leave half way through the day BUT I don’t want to be stuck somewhere an hour away from home especially that I don’t drive (the supervisor drives the company car)

So now she’s saying if I want to work more locally to where I live I would have to sign a letter to say I’m happy to work on my own again, making my own way to places etc

My bosses just want the dollar and I get that they don’t care about well-being, or the fact that I’ve said I don’t feel comfortable doing so much work right now, they’ve not offered me any alternative work even though it says on my risk assesment when I have morning sickness they would give me alternative working hours (it’s not possible so dunno why they said it)

I said I’m scared to sign the letter because if anything does happen to me whilst I’m working on my own, like if I was to fall or whatever it’ll be my fault but she didn’t know what to say to that other than go away over the weekend and think about it.
So now I feel pressured to do so or I won’t get any work basically.
I’m stressed out and that’s obviously not good for me or the baby and I’ve had no end of tears lately and my partner bless him he’s working so hard to keep us afloat but he doesn’t know what else to say.

OP posts:
Thevelvelletes · 21/12/2024 02:52

Perhaps get in touch with citizens advice before signing anything.
Personally not in favour of lone working hopefully you can get something sorted out.

Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 09:43

I think I will, I know by signing it if anything happens to me it’ll be my fault

OP posts:
EmmaMaria · 21/12/2024 11:16

Assuming that it is a zero hours casual contract (I am not doubting you think that is the case, but many workers don't understand the law on this, as such contracts are often legally invalid) then I am afraid they have no obligation to offer you alternative work, or any work at all. So if the contract is valid, you are in a very dicey position because they can simply not offer you any work. Which, whilst the may have screwed up the contract itself (employers often don't understand them either) I am sure the employer knows that bit. Because they seem to have you between a rock and a hard place. If they refuse you any work at all, what would that mean for you? Could you manage to live without the income?

MumChp · 21/12/2024 11:18

7 weeks pregnancy. Why can't you work on your own?

supersonicginandtonic · 21/12/2024 11:22

They have offered you alternatives but you're refusing them.
They said leave half way through the day but you said no.
They said work more locally but you said no.
You don't want to work alone and you don't drive. What are they supposed to do?

Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:22

MumChp · 21/12/2024 11:18

7 weeks pregnancy. Why can't you work on your own?

My work is very remote and for the past 4 years I’ve been getting buses as it’s easier for them to send me to clean 5 bedroom houses on my own. I hope you can understand as to why I wouldn’t want to do that on my own anymore

OP posts:
Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:23

EmmaMaria · 21/12/2024 11:16

Assuming that it is a zero hours casual contract (I am not doubting you think that is the case, but many workers don't understand the law on this, as such contracts are often legally invalid) then I am afraid they have no obligation to offer you alternative work, or any work at all. So if the contract is valid, you are in a very dicey position because they can simply not offer you any work. Which, whilst the may have screwed up the contract itself (employers often don't understand them either) I am sure the employer knows that bit. Because they seem to have you between a rock and a hard place. If they refuse you any work at all, what would that mean for you? Could you manage to live without the income?

It is yes zero hour, I’ve had little work compared to summer hols

OP posts:
Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:25

supersonicginandtonic · 21/12/2024 11:22

They have offered you alternatives but you're refusing them.
They said leave half way through the day but you said no.
They said work more locally but you said no.
You don't want to work alone and you don't drive. What are they supposed to do?

If I am 1h away away from home on buses how is that feasible for me to leave half way through the day? I am being told if I sign a document that I can work on my own they will grant me properties nearer to where I live, I feel they’re bribing me and pressuring me to do so. A company that’s chronically understaffed but still taking more properties on to survive as a small business

OP posts:
supersonicginandtonic · 21/12/2024 11:28

@Seasidegirly94 get the bus home then. What's the issue?
Working on your own, what's the issue?
If you're too ill to work get signed offf, there is nothing wrong with that.

MumChp · 21/12/2024 11:28

Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:22

My work is very remote and for the past 4 years I’ve been getting buses as it’s easier for them to send me to clean 5 bedroom houses on my own. I hope you can understand as to why I wouldn’t want to do that on my own anymore

Show quote history

No. I dont.

TeenLifeMum · 21/12/2024 11:33

Sorry, I think you’re being unreasonable. If there’s an emergency you call 999, otherwise call your manager but being pregnant at this early stage really shouldn’t make much difference (other than morning sickness which I sympathise with). You’re so critical that the business owners want money… they’re running a business so that’s normal.

from what you’ve said they can either have you local or further away working in a team. Those are your options.

DeliciousApples · 21/12/2024 11:43

This is not the job for you.

I'd be thinking of the future and what's your plan when you're heavily pregnant and then after the baby comes and you subsequently return to work.

It sounds like you struggle financially so I am presuming you will need to get a job asap after you are able to work again.

After the baby is born It's unlikely you will want to work far away with no way to get home if he/she is unwell at the childminder/nursery. So you'll want local work then.

So back to now...if you were intending on getting another local job at some point because of the above then perhaps start looking now to get one sooner than planned.

Re working alone, If you feel scared you will collapse or you currently have horrific morning sickness or something while working alone I can understand why you wouldn't want to do that.

If you're physically reasonably well then I'd expect you to be fine working alone. What do you fear will happen that is different to when you were not pregnant 8 weeks ago? Working alone is always risky. What's changed?

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 11:44

MumChp · 21/12/2024 11:18

7 weeks pregnancy. Why can't you work on your own?

And to think Mumsnet is meant to be a supportive place for mothers...Hmm

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 11:47

Seasidegirly94 · 20/12/2024 17:06

Hi everyone, so I’ve just found myself to be in a bit of a pickle with work and this is my back story to the situation I’m in.

I’ve worked for a cleaning company that does second homes and holiday lets on the coast for the past 4 years. I joined just as the business had started and over the years it has grown dramatically, I do believe we have over 150+ properties that we clean with a team of 10 people, 2 of them work on a friday only. Its casual hours zero hour contract, 20p more than minimum wage.
It the beginning it was great as it the workload wasn’t as crammed.

Fast forward to now, and I am now 7 weeks pregnant. I’ve had a risk assesment where I’ve also been told I don’t have to work on my own anymore so I was relieved as the bosses are used to me doing 4 bedroom 4 bathroom ‘mansions’ on my own as it’s great for me to ‘make my hours’ and realistically they save money on having to just pay me not 2 people doing the same job basically.
Now, I’ve been poorly with sickness and struggling with basically not being as physically fit and quick and on it as what they’re used to. I had to call in sick yesterday as the boss has sent the list for the properties she needed doing and there was 4 houses in total to be completed between 3 people.
I said it’s too much for me right now and the reply from the boss was that’s how they arrange the list, they look at it as basically all of it being completed in 4h and she asked if that’s too much for me then, I said we don’t know the state of the houses till we get there and that you’re not the ones doing the cleaning but us and often times the houses need more time than that and that’s fine, but not right now for me whilst I’m pregnant and sick; the argument was that perhaps I could leave half way through the day BUT I don’t want to be stuck somewhere an hour away from home especially that I don’t drive (the supervisor drives the company car)

So now she’s saying if I want to work more locally to where I live I would have to sign a letter to say I’m happy to work on my own again, making my own way to places etc

My bosses just want the dollar and I get that they don’t care about well-being, or the fact that I’ve said I don’t feel comfortable doing so much work right now, they’ve not offered me any alternative work even though it says on my risk assesment when I have morning sickness they would give me alternative working hours (it’s not possible so dunno why they said it)

I said I’m scared to sign the letter because if anything does happen to me whilst I’m working on my own, like if I was to fall or whatever it’ll be my fault but she didn’t know what to say to that other than go away over the weekend and think about it.
So now I feel pressured to do so or I won’t get any work basically.
I’m stressed out and that’s obviously not good for me or the baby and I’ve had no end of tears lately and my partner bless him he’s working so hard to keep us afloat but he doesn’t know what else to say.

I think your concerns are valid OP. This is a hard job to start with. Early pregnancy is awful for smells and energy. Is there such thing as a cleaners forum or somewhere else when cleaners might have a view?

X

MumChp · 21/12/2024 11:47

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 11:44

And to think Mumsnet is meant to be a supportive place for mothers...Hmm

Show quote history

Of course but I don't see any reasons why OP can't continue her work?

Livinghappy · 21/12/2024 11:56

Op, I'm not sure you have many options as it seems it's difficult to place you if there are restrictions, such as not driving and not feeling comfortable to work alone.

What do you fear specifically about working alone whilst in early pregnancy? I'm just looking back at I'm sure I worked alone, at times when pregnant. I don't think I gave it a thought but perhaps circumstancesor your health are different for you.

I think posters are just trying to understand your position rather than be unsupportive. I would say late pregnancy is more of a struggle for a physical job so you may need to look at alternatives.

Are you able to get other work?

Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:56

Thankyou for your replies everyone, I knew in some way I was going to get home truths thrown my way I regret it deeply not looking for a different, local job. I am unskilled and I have tried for a 20h tapping house job in October but was told no, no experience. Cleaning is what I done since I was 17 and what I should’ve done is gone back to a hotel, as a housekeeper, and I would do it now but nowhere is recruiting as this time of year till around April is quiet.

what has changed with me not wanting to work on my own is I guess the fact of the physically straining job I know I am capable of but now I’ve got to think of my baby, I also have long distances from bus stops to properties and carry all my stuff with me like the bottles and cloths.

it’s too late now, baby is here now and I’ve gotta see what options I have and if I can settle in the middle somewhere with my employer.

OP posts:
custardpyjamas · 21/12/2024 11:58

Can you get a panic alarm that calls your DP, like the ones old or vulnerable people have in case of a fall. It sounds like you are very anxious, most women carry on working pretty normally during pregnancy. I was travelling all over the country by myself when I was pregnant. If you are suffering from really bad sickness you need to talk to your Doctor and get signed off if necessary. But if you are working a zero hours contract I don't know what your payments would be.

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 11:59

Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:56

Thankyou for your replies everyone, I knew in some way I was going to get home truths thrown my way I regret it deeply not looking for a different, local job. I am unskilled and I have tried for a 20h tapping house job in October but was told no, no experience. Cleaning is what I done since I was 17 and what I should’ve done is gone back to a hotel, as a housekeeper, and I would do it now but nowhere is recruiting as this time of year till around April is quiet.

what has changed with me not wanting to work on my own is I guess the fact of the physically straining job I know I am capable of but now I’ve got to think of my baby, I also have long distances from bus stops to properties and carry all my stuff with me like the bottles and cloths.

it’s too late now, baby is here now and I’ve gotta see what options I have and if I can settle in the middle somewhere with my employer.

Well done for balancing your thoughts.

Good luck x

Original poster
Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 12:09

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 11:59

Well done for balancing your thoughts.

Good luck x

Show quote history

my thoughts were never unbalanced, I am simply looking for advice and people like you quite frankly make me feel like shit. Many thanks.

OP posts:
Spacecowboys · 21/12/2024 12:14

I’m not sure what else your employer can do. You don’t want to work in the team of 3 because of the workload. Don’t want to do a half day because you’ll have to get the bus home and don’t want to work more locally because you’ll be lone working. What’s left? The first trimester isn’t even the worst part of pregnancy. Perhaps a different job would suit you better.

jumperoo2738 · 21/12/2024 12:16

OP, have a look at my previous posts. I was being kind and defended you against unhelpful comments.

I meant balancing your thoughts as in you sound like you are working through them.

I hope you feel better soon.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 21/12/2024 12:17

Seasidegirly94 · 21/12/2024 11:22

My work is very remote and for the past 4 years I’ve been getting buses as it’s easier for them to send me to clean 5 bedroom houses on my own. I hope you can understand as to why I wouldn’t want to do that on my own anymore

Show quote history

Why don't you want to get the bus?

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 21/12/2024 12:18

Cleaning jobs must be plentiful. Get another job.

DrFoxtrot · 21/12/2024 12:19

What work pattern do you think will work for you? Thinking about your job, have you made any suggestions to your employer about what you are actually prepared to do?