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Pregnant, overworked yet still in probation. Anyone have a legal view?

9 replies

sellotape12 · 21/11/2025 16:07

Hi ladies, I’m upset and stressed. I am the executive director of a small team in a small company which I joined in May. I am pregnant which I declared to them in early November.
my probation review was meant to be two weeks ago, but they postponed it because the boss was too busy. It’s a small architect practice.

My issue is the workload has been piling on since my pregnancy announcement. I don’t think it’s malicious. I think it’s because it’s close to year end. I’ve tried to raise it three times with the studio manager (who is trying to do an HR role.) each time I’m given platitudes that they will try and help and they don’t want me to be feeling like this and it’s important to help… But then they don’t actually do anything.

In addition, my boss told me in a clumsy way that the person who was in the job before me worked her ass off, was always happy to pick it up. He told me this during my pregnancy meeting. And I’m already working two hours of unpaid overtime most days. I’m exhausted and scared. I can’t get a GP appointment until Thursday next week. I’ve just looked at my diary next week and my heart is in my mouth. Even blocks of deep working time have been booked over with meetings. Our project managers keep booking me for work in 1 to 2 hour slots which is just crazy – we usually need four hours to get ahead into anything, and they know this.

They haven’t done a pregnancy assessment risk. Funnily enough I’ve just seen that risk assessment gone in on Tuesday over my only time to do any client work. I actually do not know what to do. Can anyone help advise?

OP posts:
ScaryM0nster · 21/11/2025 16:11

It sounds like you’re in a role where you should be able to manage your own diary to a reasonable extent.

Meeting lnvtes are just that. Invites.

You can decline, or propose new times.

sellotape12 · 21/11/2025 16:24

Yes, I am in a role where I should be able to do that. You’re absolutely right and this is what I’m used to. But they are also using me as an operational resource because the team is very very understaffed. So I’m basically doing two people’s jobs although that is obviously not recorded. If I decline meetings or push back, I am accused of being pessimistic and “not getting their we all muck in together” culture

OP posts:
ChavsAreReal · 21/11/2025 16:27

It sounds like a shit place to work. Are you saying its deliberate because you're pregnant?

EstherRuth · 21/11/2025 16:33

Contact Pregnant then Screwed.

sellotape12 · 21/11/2025 16:55

Sorry, I should’ve said yes I know about Pregnant Then Screwed and then I never manage to catch them because they’re only open for a few hours per day. I’m going to ring ACAS. There’s no smoking gun that it’s because I’m pregnant. But as soon as the pregnancy was disclosed and I mentioned to them my workload, they said there was an “air of pessimism about my ability to get on with the work.”

OP posts:
VividLemonLeader · 21/11/2025 16:58

It is the end of the financial year - everywhere i ever worked went crazy between November and December.

FinallyHere · 21/11/2025 18:53

I’m sorry you are facing this.

look as if you may have found some clues as to why your predecessor who worked her a&& off has moved on.

sellotape12 · 22/11/2025 14:38

@FinallyHere Hmm yeah but previous woman was there for five years. So she stuck it out (no partner or kids though).

OP posts:
Gettingonabitnow · 23/11/2025 22:49

At Exec Director level (which assume is quite senior?), two hours overtime per day at year end sounds about right to be honest. I bet you’re shattered from the extra energy needed when pregnant though. Good luck x

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