Suspect I may be the worst employee ever - what do you think?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

Ok so started my new job recently - got the job when I was about 13 weeks pregnant, told them after they offered me the job, so that caused a few interesting reactions.

Asked for flexible working (4 days a week), didn't get it, but obviously have to work very strict hours in order to do nursery pickups for DS. They've been fine and lovely about that, I have to say.

So their bureaucracy and red tape meant that it took about 7 weeks to get the job/references etc sorted, so only started 1.5 weeks ago. I'm now 22 weeks pregnant, so will only be of any use for about another four months before I go on mat leave.

And now, beginning of my second week, I've slipped over on some steps and broken a bone in my foot. Currently on sofa in temporary cast until I can see the fracture clinic on Wed, no idea how long I'll be in plaster for at the moment. Could be a week, could be ten. Am not allowed to put any weight on the temporary cast so it's crutches for me.

Work is a drive or a bus away, so I'm stranded. (Bus stop too far to hobble on crutches).

This job seems ill fated......

ps and I can't work from home as their IT department haven't set up my VPN access yet...

could you organise a lift or taxi so that you can somehow get into work? Maybe with the help of your employers? I guess you really need to wait until Weds to get the full picture, which is only a couple of days, but I think you need try to work out a plan for after that - or at least be willing to work on one with your employers. you can't help your bad luck, but you can at least show willing.

We have a car sharing system for work and I had got a lift organised for Wed anyway, so can go in then (have really big meeting that day, so was going to suggest I go in then anyway, lift or taxi etc)

It's about a half hour drive though so taxi there and back is going to be in the £50 mark per day

It's not so much the practicalities of it, I'm waiting for my boss to call me back so we can discuss that, it just seems to be one thing after another really!

Also my employer is REALLY hot about H&S, and I don't know what their attitude to people on crutches in the office is going to be. I have never worked anywhere that is so paranoid about it, honestly.

Well you'll just have to wait and see whether you will need crutches and for how long. Your employer might choose to pay for a taxi for you, I guess it depends how much they need you to be at work! (I had a friend who couldn't drive for a while and her work paid for taxis for her because that was cheaper than replacing her, which would have been necessary).

Just spoke to my boss - home today resting, taxi in tomorrow (they're paying) and then we'll see what the clinic says on Wednesday. Fingers crossed I won't have to be in plaster!

They sound pretty decent, tbh - hope the news is good on Weds!

thanks!

I did this. Same problem about getting to work. I was able to work from home (can they get onto the VPN asap as a priority?). But went into the office once a week (got a lift).

The wheels of our IT dept grind exceedingly slow, unfortunately....my colleague just tried to chase them up and got nowhere.

Going in by taxi tomorrow, so we'll see how we go after that.

Tedious though, isn't it! And crutches are bloody difficult. Just made cheese on toast and then realised I couldn't carry the plate from the kitchen to the sofa! Had to ask the nice man from Virgin Media who was fixing our telly to help

oh yes...the cup of coffee/plate of food dilemma. You can put it on a tray and crawl along the floor pushing it with your nose, or you can stay in the kitchen and eat

My employer paid for taxis when I was on crutches - any chance yours might do the same, or split the cost with you? Or help you arrange something wrt car sharing?

yes, i think we'll work something out with car sharing etc. they have said they'll pay for tomorrow's taxis, so that's a start.

the pushing it along with my nose did occur to me! have also needed the loo for ages now, but can't face hauling myself up the stairs.....we really need a downstairs loo in this house.

What a nightmare you've been having! Sounds as though your boss is being reasonable yet again, which is good, so hopefully you'll be able to work something out that suits you all given the restrictions of the situation.

I know, flowery! (Nice to see you!) I'm truly starting to wonder if this run of luck will ever let up. I normally sail through life with no real problems, I wonder if this is a build up of karma all coming at once

Maybe 2009 will work out better

Course it will. New year, new baby, new start, foot will be mended, all will be sunshine and roses, you'll see!

onwards and upwards. just have to get through the last bits of 2008, and then shake the dust of that year off my feet. carefully, so I don't break anything!