Help needed- pregnant and bad workplace

[MomToBe2025xx]

I didn't know what board to post this on so its on here and 'Chat'

For context, I have an office job (wont fully disclose the sector as I want to remain as anon as poss) but it is known to be quite two faced and is disliked by many people who have worked in this sector before. I work for a rather large company however my office is small and I am the youngest. I am also pregnant, I am due in 4 months, my company are aware of this.

I am good at what I do, for my age and experience, and I always try do my best and also help my colleagues with tasks too if I am quiet. I am never late, rarely have days off sick (even when I was suffering with morning sickness) I provide proof of all maternity appointments and always give 2 weeks notice at very least. However I am constantly getting picked on, whether its snidey comments, complaints to people higher up, everyone going silent when I walk into the room or blatantly being ignored or pushed out of conversation/ team talks.

I got digs thrown at me because our printer wont work? I don't use the printer for my own use so I don't know how that could be my fault?
I also have been spoken down on because I want to take holiday before Mat leave (which I am entitled to do) and by the sounds of it, I am not allowed?

I usually love working, but the last few weeks I am incredibly drained and unhappy. But I cant leave due to being pregnant and I really need the earnings before I go off and during MAT leave (I only get 6 weeks 90% pay then SMP but still)
I considered voicing it to HR, but they are close with colleagues and it would be incredibly awkward in the office
I just want to know what I can do as I am really struggling

I had similar situation at my workplace, very toxic people. Decided to go on mat leave when was 31 weeks pregnant. No regret, my mental wellbeing is the priority. Would you consider start your mat leave earlier?

Exactly this, I feel drained and I know it isn't heathy for me. I like working, I want to work and have a career, but I also need to look after myself.
If I go early that could work, however I only submitted my remaining holiday days before my due date and that was brought into the complaint today basically trying to say I don't deserve it due to not finishing this task.. This is why I am so annoyed

Have a professional and assertive conversation with your manager or the person who received the complaint and say you were given no deadline and completed it in less than 24 hours which you think is entirely reasonable. Just keep going like that until mat leave then look for another job when you come back. You seem to think your colleagues are disgruntled that you’re going on leave. It may or may not be the case, but there’s nothing you can do about it.

I don't think they are disgruntled, but I still don't think I deserve this? No one does, pregnant or not...
Thanks for the advice though, I will do that.

OP, if your work has previously been well received but there is a recent change since you announced your pregnancy then you might be looking at maternity discrimination. I would say document everything but speak to pregnant and then screwed.

You are only getting SMP from work so the least stressful answer is don’t go back after maternity leave and get a new job. You don’t need to pay back SMP. Annual leave isn’t dependent on performance. You can (and many employers prefer that you) use your annual leave before maternity leave. You will also keep accruing annual leave whilst on maternity leave and be entitled to the same amount as if you were working.

Worth speaking to someone if you can OP.

Re. Holidays, your employer does have some discretion over holidays being used. They couldn’t stop you from starting mat leave early officially but they can decline holiday requests for business need.

I have only come on here to know what I can/ can't do... I don't want to be taken advantage of because I am young, they make comments about people my age saying they are lazy etc right in front of my face.
Thank you for this, it is really helpful! Would I need to pay back the 90% pay I'll get for 6 weeks?

Ah I see, I thought I was allowed to take all my days before I go on MAT leave, I only want to take 2 weeks, so I can relax and do last minute bits before baby's arrival..

@MNHQ what is the point of leaving threads like this standing? Thirty-five posts and 14 of them have been deleted. I know that the OP has a genuine question but the thread is nonsense if almost half of the posts have been deleted - including several which she has responded to so presumably not abusive or obvious spam?

No, SMP is 90% for the first 6 weeks and then the SMP rate. You can start your maternity leave early if you want to relax before baby is here. You can use the online calculator to work out when the earliest you can start your maternity leave is. Your annual leave would then be taken at the end of your maternity leave, which is why many places prefer you take it before hand. You can’t necessarily take any leave you haven’t accrued but you will accrue leave through maternity leave and again you would take that at the end of maternity leave.

@AlohaRose a lot of the posts came from one poster who was clearly trying to work a specific angle. I don’t know if they are a previously banned poster and that’s why they’ve been deleted or if MN also thought they were trying to work a specific angle but the thread still serves to give OP the information that she needs.

I was treated rather unfavourably when I was pregnant.
Completely different sector from you. They refused to give me a risk assessment saying everything was a risk to me?

Then I would receive bitchy comments too... things like I'd have to pay back Maternity pay if I didn't return. I had worked there for many years. I think they thought I wouldn't return after Mat leave. However, once I returned it was like night and day - that's why I came to the conclusion they assumed I wouldn't return!

I remember being very upset and stressed. You should take notes dates & time of everything in case you need it later on. My workplace wasn't structured in terms of having HR etc, you'd have more to go on if it came to it.

Regarding holidays, would you be off the full year they are allocated? I would question if they don't allow you to take them prior to Mat Leave, when they expect you to take them. You accrue holidays whilst you're off too.

No, you can ask but employer’s have discretion over annual leave. They can decline for business need if they want to, but if you choose to start your actual maternity leave they cannot stop that.

the company has to give you x days for holiday but its down to the company (usually) rather than the employee