Help I have a meeting tomorrow and need advice

[Mum5367363]

Need advice about work while pregnant
I’m currently pregnant and due in November. I told my manager about my pregnancy quite early on, and HR have also known for a while.
My job is factory cleaning, and I normally work 6 hours a day . My duties include cleaning toilets, floors, stairs, offices, the boardroom, canteen , bins and drinks machines. Some of the work can be quite physical, including hoovering , mopping and repetitive cleaning.
I’ve been struggling with back/sciatica pain during pregnancy, so I was given a fit note recommending light duty’s for 14 days . I showed this to my manager, but I don’t feel like it was really taken seriously. I’ve also spoken to someone from Health & Safety because I was worried about the work I was being expected to do.
HR have now asked me what I can and can’t do and have mentioned possibly reducing my hours or me thinking of starting maternity leave early as in her words do I really think I’ll be able to work my role as a cleaner till then and the cleaning still needs to be done . I really don’t want my hours reduced because I’m relying on my normal wages, and I’m not ready to start maternity leave early either.
I’m trying to do my job and follow the advice I’ve been given, but I’m worried that if I say I can’t do certain tasks, they’ll use it as a reason to reduce my hours or push me onto maternity leave.
I’m wondering what other people would do in this situation? Can my employer just reduce my hours/pay because I’ve been given a fit note for light duties during pregnancy? Should they be looking at alternative/light duties instead?
I’d really appreciate some advice from anyone who has been through something similar, especially if you’ve dealt with HR while pregnant.

Is it actually possible for them to give you lighter duties? Do you work as a team and someone else could pick up the slack?

A fit note says what you can do, if they can't give you that then you are not fit for work and so are off sick - is that OK with you, do you get sick pay?

HR should be very worried they're endangering you against medical advice. I don't like what they're saying to you, reduced hours would only be reasonable if full time light duties were impossible.

There's probably a policy on starting maternity leave early if you're off sick, I think mine says if you're sick after 36 weeks. Check if you have one.

I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly.

Have you had a risk assessment? They should do one in any job when you notify pregnancy but it's hugely important in a physical job where you will be using COSHH products.

They need to accommodate what the doctor has recommended, they can't disadvantage you by cutting your hours because you are pregnant - that would be classed as discrimination.

If they aren't doing this I would contact ACAS for advice.

Are you in a union? If so contact them ASAP, if not contact ACAS or/and Pregnant and Screwed. @LeahLine is correct, your employer is trying g to discriminate against you.

There's probably a policy on starting maternity leave early if you're off sick, I think mine says if you're sick after 36 weeks. Check if you have one.

This is standard and relates to SMP. Companies don’t need separate clauses about it. (It’s pregnancy related sickness. If OP breaks her leg it wouldn’t trigger it.)

Hi, thank you for responding. I told my manager I was pregnant when I was only 10 weeks pregnant. His initial response was “well done”, which I found quite inappropriate, especially as I was expecting a more supportive response. I pulled a face and he quickly corrected himself and said “congratulations”.
After that, I heard nothing regarding my pregnancy until I was around 14 weeks, when HR approached me, congratulated me and said we needed to have a meeting. We had the meeting, where we discussed my maternity leave and arranging a pregnancy risk assessment.
Weeks then went by and the risk assessment still hadn’t been carried out. I eventually had to approach management myself and ask what was happening with it. It was finally completed when I was around 20 weeks pregnant.

What exactly is your contractual status? Are permanent, full time, zero hours etc

They are in a bit of a risky position potentially because of maternity discrimination but that doesn’t mean they are entirely wrong.

Your fit note lists it as a pregnancy related condition so if you are over a certain point in your pregnancy and incapable of working due to a pregnancy related condition then they can enforce maternity leave at that point.

If they are unable to facilitate the adjustments then they could tell you that you need to take sick leave even if you are not paid for sick leave.

If they reduce your hours then this could be pregnancy related discrimination but you’d be best seeking advice from ACAS, your union (if you’re in one) or Pregnantthenscrewed

Wherever possible get them to email you these things so you have it in writing. If you have the option then take a trusted colleague into meetings with you to notetake and act as a witness.

Take. care ast reducing your hours may affect whether you are eligible for SMP. I agree speak to ACAS/union.
Your pregnancy risk assessment should be reviewed to take account of the fit note

Dont agree to reduce your hours or to go on maternity leave early. If you have a fit note at 36 weeks it will trigger maternity leave automatically by law.

@ByQuaintAzureWasp ok i go on leave at 35 weeks anyway my sick note was only for light duty’s for 2 weeks anyway they just get funny thank you for your advice