Grief at work because i'm pregnant :(

laurenjs88

Hi there, i'm just looking for some advice, I recently found out I am expecting, but have only been at my job for a month, I informed my branch manager and she has turned into a complete nightmare, I dont know how much more i can cope with already.

She is refusing to put me theough the training i need to do my job properly now and has given my training spots away to someone else, is calling me into her office to have a go at me for being 20 mins late for work, when i explained to her it was because of morning sickness she said that I cant use that to be late for work i have to be there on time, nobody gets a lunch break and i am not allowed to call and book appointments with the midwife whilst im at work, i work 8.30 - 5.30 so i have to call from work!. I've been staying some night untill 10.30 to help out which is unpaid but i just feel so run down and depressed.


I have to wake myself up at 5am make myself sick and then go back to to bed for an hour and a half, to make sure i'm not late for work. I'm being left with no work that is within my job role and she is just being nasty all the time. I've only been there a few weeks and i cant stand her, I can understand her being annoyed but what she is doing isnt fair!

She was lovely when i started and is nice to everyone else, but since i told her its getting ridiculas, i printed out my maternity rights at work 2 copies one for us both, because im so new i wanted to sit down and dicuss what was going to happen to me, the other girls can use the internet too, and suddenly im being called into the office and then my log-in no longer able to get on the internet...

I really dont know what to do, i want to just walk out but we cant afford to live on my partners income and we need to save for the baby, plus i have a toddler already!

Poppy9

How pregnant are you? Do you have a probationary period in your job contract?

laurenjs88

6 weeks, i dont have a job contract yet, havent even had a formal interview, i was just told she wanted me to have the job, and sorted out my wages, this was all before we found out.

SunriseSunset_2

Others will come and give the advice you're looking for, but I just wanted to say a couple of things.

1. PLEASE don't let this woman get you so depressed. You're supposed to be as relaxed as possible for you and the baby. If you end up working somewhere else in the long run, then do it because she's not worth upsetting your pregnancy over.

2. Making yourself sick isn't good! If you're late due to morning sickness then you're late- too bad for her. Remind her that morning sickness doesn't last forever. Don't be sick unless your body wants to be sick, because you're harming yourself in the process.

3. I don't see why she's making such a big deal over you being 20mins late when you're working 5hrs overtime. If you're not getting paid for your overtime, in money or gratitude, don't bother doing it. At 5:30 go home and be with your family. If she doesn't like you then she doesn't like you. When you stop overworking she'll be able to appreciate you more.

Good luck!

alwaysonthego_2

you are not allowed to be discriminated against because you are pregnant and you should not be passed over for training. You need to start writing a diary about occurances and who was present and what was said at what time.

Contact ACAS who will be able to point you in the right direction.

nexuss

It seems like they are trying to find a way to sack you.

robpw2

why do they not give you a lunch break ..i would be annoyed over that

SunriseSunset_2

robpw2 wrote: »

why do they not give you a lunch break ..i would be annoyed over that

Isn't a lunch break after a couple of hours a legal requirement?

Fran

laurenjs88 wrote: »

...I informed my branch manager and she has turned into a complete nightmare, I dont know how much more i can cope with already.

Is there someone above her you can discuss this with?

She is refusing to put me theough the training i need to do my job properly now and has given my training spots away to someone else

Is there another senior staff member you can also talk about this to?

.. nobody gets a lunch break

Most people are entitled to a break Rest breaks

....and i am not allowed to call and book appointments with the midwife whilst im at work, i work 8.30 - 5.30 so i have to call from work!.

You are entitled to take your rest breaks (see above link) away from the workplace.

I've been staying some night untill 10.30 to help out which is unpaid but i just feel so run down and depressed.

You do not have to do this extra work and help out especially given the way you are being treated.

I have to wake myself up at 5am make myself sick

That is so wrong and no job is worth that, you need to care for yourself and the baby.

There are a few issues that you need professional advice on,

a) Maternity rights (right to ante natal care)
b) Rest breaks
c) Discrimination while pregnant
d) Terms & Conditions of Employment

ACAS
Citizens Advice - Adviceguide - Parental rights at work
Worksmart.org- Maternity Leave
TUC leaflet Maternity rights

Poppy9

I assume you are working for a private employer and not civil service or public sector as both of these would have given you a contract of employment plus you would get your legal entitlement of a lunch break etc.

However public/civil sector do have 1-3 month probationary period in which they can just terminate your contract.

If you are not on flexi time then you cannot continue to turn up for work late, even if it is due to morning sickness as they can use it as an excuse to finish you.

You are entitled to a 20 min break after working for 5 or 6 hours.

As this person is only a branch manager you can go over her head if you are being victimised.

Jennifer_Jane

This is not helpful, but everyone above has said what I would have said.

Just two things: is there a Union? If so, use them to chat to without turning it into a formal conversation. They can give you the words to use (and then the manager will be very impressed by you and your business savvy!) Why have you started without a job contract? What does the Company Policy say (I bet the Company will have plenty on its website about it's vision and values - read this and you can repeat it back to the Branch Manager).


But more - as a woman in my 60's, we fought for women's rights - for the right for women to become managers, and for the rights for women not to lose their jobs when they became pregnant. Her attitude has horrified an old feminist.

Sorry I can't be more helpful, though. Good luck and please try to get sorted as this won't be good for you or the baby. Perhaps you could have a quiet and unemotional chat with her to tell her how much you liked her and respected her, and how you will need to have a job to come back to and was so enjoying this one, and that the pregnancy was unplanned, etc, and ask if there is anything you can do to make this easier for her. Companies with branches are usually big enough to cope with pregnancy.

Jen
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