Meeting at work over hours - any advice?

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I have posted this week about some trouble I have been having at work getting my maternity rights implemented. Now after a phone call from my manager today, we have arranged a meeting next week to revise my hours where I suspect it will be 'suggested' that I might reduce my hours or take some more maternity leave (whether this is feasible or not I am debating but it was said to me at any rate...)

Now yesterday I was supposed to be out and about, so I did a bit of work first thing at home, then found out as I was leaving that my car was playing up. So I had to phone work, a couple of hours after the day had started, to explain and take it to the garage, thus meaning I had to miss two appointments that I made for the day.

This morning I made an appointment to see the doctor. Okay, so you can see this isn't looking good to work because I had to cancel another appointment. But the worrying and stress has been really getting to me and tbh I'm finding it hard to face going in.

It's hard because I do love my job and I was really looking forward to going back, but I am getting depressed now. Granted, the lack of sleep from a baby who wakes four times a night doesn't help but that's part of the problem, I don't have anywhere I can rest at work, which I'm entitled to. They say I'm not entitled to this. I've had to cut down the number of bottles of my milk I leave for DD2 at nursery because I can't cope with her demand, as I'm having to express 2/3 times a day just to get one bottle for her, all in my time and that's tiring me even more.

And now I've got this meeting and I just know that no matter how much I go in, armed with info about my rights and whatnot, that I'm just going to end up a tearful crumpled heap. I have actually debated handing in my notice, even though we can't afford it. It doesn't help that prior to my leave, I was made redundant and had to reinterview for this job, which is the same, just in a different office which doubles my travelling distance and almost quadruples the time it takes to get to work in the morning.

Does anyone have any advice, or even just a virtual hug? *sniffles*

kelloggs36

What have they quoted that states you are not entitled to rest periods? Have you supplied them with the evidence which proves otherwise? Have you got a Union?

kelloggs36

http://www.eoc-law.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=2997#1278

Hope this helps - it specifically quotes the legislation which states that your employer MUST provide adequate facilities for you and toilets are NOT considered as such.

And here is the exact regulation:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si1992/Uksi_19923004_en_2.htm#mdiv25

You can threaten them with an Employment Tribunal if they won't give you the facilities that they must by law. Do they have a grievance procedure? If so, make a formal complaint by grievance. You must make a claim to an Employment Tribunal within 3 months of lodging such a complaint.

Whatever you do, don't let them win. They are trying to bully you out of your rights and they cannot be allowed to get away with it.

Oldernotwiser

Jo_R wrote:

Hi all

I have posted this week about some trouble I have been having at work getting my maternity rights implemented. Now after a phone call from my manager today, we have arranged a meeting next week to revise my hours where I suspect it will be 'suggested' that I might reduce my hours or take some more maternity leave (whether this is feasible or not I am debating but it was said to me at any rate...)

Now yesterday I was supposed to be out and about, so I did a bit of work first thing at home, then found out as I was leaving that my car was playing up. So I had to phone work, a couple of hours after the day had started, to explain and take it to the garage, thus meaning I had to miss two appointments that I made for the day.

This morning I made an appointment to see the doctor. Okay, so you can see this isn't looking good to work because I had to cancel another appointment. But the worrying and stress has been really getting to me and tbh I'm finding it hard to face going in.

It's hard because I do love my job and I was really looking forward to going back, but I am getting depressed now. Granted, the lack of sleep from a baby who wakes four times a night doesn't help but that's part of the problem, I don't have anywhere I can rest at work, which I'm entitled to. They say I'm not entitled to this. I've had to cut down the number of bottles of my milk I leave for DD2 at nursery because I can't cope with her demand, as I'm having to express 2/3 times a day just to get one bottle for her, all in my time and that's tiring me even more.

And now I've got this meeting and I just know that no matter how much I go in, armed with info about my rights and whatnot, that I'm just going to end up a tearful crumpled heap. I have actually debated handing in my notice, even though we can't afford it. It doesn't help that prior to my leave, I was made redundant and had to reinterview for this job, which is the same, just in a different office which doubles my travelling distance and almost quadruples the time it takes to get to work in the morning.

Does anyone have any advice, or even just a virtual hug? *sniffles*

If you are in a union it would probably be a good idea to take a rep into the meeting with you. As you are having trouble coping (and I'm not surprised with two children this young!) perhaps taking more leave or dropping your hours would be better for you at the moment. Without wanting to moralise, alongside rights go responsibilities; taking time off work for a doctor's appointment when things are so obviously difficult at work seems to be fairly unhelpful. Many people have to see the doctor in their own time, even when they're not having the problems you are.
I would try to prepare for this meeting by planning a manageable compromise; I don't think that going in demanding your "rights" is the best way to approach it. I'm afraid I'm not into virtual hugs but I do sympathise.

Jo_R_2

Thanks for that, that was one of the things I've been looking at. It's awkward because there isn't anywhere I can actually go to rest anyway, so it's kind of rhetorical iyswim? My manager's manager has said that if she's not in her office I'm welcome to go there if I need a break, but that's not ever happened. My manager isn't against the idea of me having a rest per se, just that there isn't anywhere for me to, even though I *should* have somewhere.

What has been said is that I'm not actually entitled to this because it's in the laws coming in in April 2007 - I only found this had been said at the beginning of the week and the person who said it has obviously got it mixed up with the new extended maternity leave laws coming in in April - either that or they're trying to convince me I'm wrong.

I raised the fact I thought they were wrong and she said that it might be the case but she can't create a space where there is one. What can I say to that? I don't know *shrugs*

kelloggs36

However rights are rights and cannot be compromised unless the employee wants to, and as long as she doesn't compromise her position at work in the long run.

Jo_R_2

Oldernotwiser wrote:

If you are in a union it would probably be a good idea to take a rep into the meeting with you. As you are having trouble coping (and I'm not surprised with two children this young!) perhaps taking more leave or dropping your hours would be better for you at the moment. Without wanting to moralise, alongside rights go responsibilities; taking time off work for a doctor's appointment when things are so obviously difficult at work seems to be fairly unhelpful. Many people have to see the doctor in their own time, even when they're not having the problems you are.
I would try to prepare for this meeting by planning a manageable compromise; I don't think that going in demanding your "rights" is the best way to approach it. I'm afraid I'm not into virtual hugs but I do sympathise.

Agreed about the doctor's appointment, it didn't look great. There was a purpose to it though, I wanted to get a letter from my doctor advising work to revise the situation because of the effect it's having and how I am feeling currently, it's something you can do in maternity-related situations like this.

I also agree about demanding my rights isn't going to be too productive - I know that it'll just get people's backs up. I would need to think about what a "manageable compromise" would involve for both sides if that were to be my approach.

kelloggs36

Jo_R wrote:

Thanks for that, that was one of the things I've been looking at. It's awkward because there isn't anywhere I can actually go to rest anyway, so it's kind of rhetorical iyswim? My manager's manager has said that if she's not in her office I'm welcome to go there if I need a break, but that's not ever happened. My manager isn't against the idea of me having a rest per se, just that there isn't anywhere for me to, even though I *should* have somewhere.

What has been said is that I'm not actually entitled to this because it's in the laws coming in in April 2007 - I only found this had been said at the beginning of the week and the person who said it has obviously got it mixed up with the new extended maternity leave laws coming in in April - either that or they're trying to convince me I'm wrong.

I raised the fact I thought they were wrong and she said that it might be the case but she can't create a space where there is one. What can I say to that? I don't know *shrugs*

the legislation under which they must provide the rest facilities dates back to 1992!!!! They must make provision.

olgadapolga

Sounds like a fair bit of sex discrimination to me as well.

liney

I am confused. Do you want an area to express milk, or an area to rest during work time because you express milk?

Jo_R_2

liney wrote:

I am confused. Do you want an area to express milk, or an area to rest during work time because you express milk?

I want the place to be able to rest, because I would then be able to use that space to express milk. I also need a place to rest because I am knackered from expressing (or trying to!) so much when at home, and because baby wakes soooooo much...

I am entitled to a place to rest, and though there's nothing that says my employer HAS to provide facilities for me to express, it is recommended by the Health and Safety Executive that an employer provides this, and if they don't it could potentially be grounds for sex discrimination (so say the HSE.)