Pregnancy and not returning to work

polgara

Asking on behalf of a relative - currently 4 months pregnant after a 7 year battle to get pregnant (IVF etc etc) who works at a residential home (more like a nursing home but they'd have to pay them more and have further registration) for minimum wage doing 3 x 12 hour night shifts.

Due to a number of reasons she's not planning to go back after the baby is born, her manager is not the most supportive (relative is understandably being v careful - she had lots of medical problems with her first pregnancy) but has been booking her on all her mandatory training that will lapse during her maternity leave. Now as a manager myself thats good planning - however all the training is during daytime. Relative is struggling to cope with night shifts/training during the day (even if given TOIL) and feeling pretty awful and has a sneaky suspicion that the manager is subtly hoping that she'll quit. She really wants to tell her manager that she's not coming back (she only gets SML/SMP) and wants to do it asap. I've advised her that she only has to give them her formal notice period.

I'm used to women always coming back due to the occupational scheme that we have (even if only for the minimum requirement).

I think the midwife at the specialist clinic she's under may advise that night shift is not suitable and so she may be moved to a day shift but gut feel says not to say anything at the moment. Other relatives want her to go off sick (SSP only) until her maternity leave kicks in but thats totally against her loyalty to the patients/staff. Any advice I can give her?

Rockporkchop

I don't know what the proper answer is but I completely agree with the relatives who say she should be signed off sick until her maternity leave kicks in (or at least until she is past 24 weeks). Her only loyalty now should be to the hard fought for miracle she is carrying, and doing this combination of long shifts and nights and days is really no good for her or the baby. She really needs to rest as much as possible and give this pregnancy a good chance, starting with eliminating this particular stress from her life.

McKneff

Rockporkchop wrote: »

I don't know what the proper answer is but I completely agree with the relatives who say she should be signed off sick until her maternity leave kicks in (or at least until she is past 24 weeks). Her only loyalty now should be to the hard fought for miracle she is carrying, and doing this combination of long shifts and nights and days is really no good for her or the baby. She really needs to rest as much as possible and give this pregnancy a good chance, starting with eliminating this particular stress from her life.

here here :T

She must ask herself what is the most important thing in her life right now. and act on it.

Js_Other_Half

Depending on the nature of the clients, I question if she should be there at all...? I know that in a local residential respite unit ( for special needs children) that the staff there are moved onto office work immediately they tell the manager they are expecting. I know one lady years ago lost her baby during second trimester after an incident, so I think that's why the policy was altered.

Shift work and pregnancy is a nightmare anyway, she must be so stressed and tired.

I wish her all the best for the remainder of her pregnancy.