role adjustment during pregnancy

an9i77

Hi

Please can someone advise. I currently work in a job that involves a lot of driving. I am now 8 weeks pregnant. I have an underlying medical condition (diabetes) which is very difficult to manage in pregnancy, as a result of this difficulty I have been having an increasing number of low blood sugars (hypos) which will probably mean it will become unsafe to drive (At the moment I am just about ok but any further deterioration may mean it becomes unsafe ). If I was not pregnant I would be able to correct this problem but due to the pregnancy, on medical advice I cannot do this.

As I am pregnant, does my employer have an obligation to remove me from driving duties during my pregnancy given that in my case it would make it unsafe to drive?

This will mean working from home as there is no physical office nearby.

Or is there any way they could just force me to get signed off?

I can do a great deal of my role from home, boss won't like it but can I insist on it?

Thanks

silkyuk9

If your job requires driving such as a taxi driver I cant see how he could accommodate you. If you can work from home successfully why not put it to him?

I think it could also be dangerous for you to be driving anyway if you are having medical issues as stated maybe for the safety of yourself, unborn baby and others you should think about not being on the road.

an9i77

Thanks, what I would like to know though is whether I can insist on working from home, so that I still get a full salary, or whether they could insist on me going on the sick in which case I'll only get SSP and potentially lose out on some of my maternity pay too.

I drive around to meetings in different locations, so the job isn't all driving but a big part of it.

Caroline_a

What does your doctor say?

an9i77

Caroline_a wrote: »

What does your doctor say?

At the moment I can drive, but if my condition deteriorates (which based on my previous pregnancy is probable) it will not be safe as I will lose my ability to tell when my blood sugar is dropping.

If it's not safe to drive then I won't, I'm not going to risk my or my unborn child's life for my job, I just want to know what will happen at that point.

madvixen

an9i77 wrote: »

Thanks, what I would like to know though is whether I can insist on working from home, so that I still get a full salary, or whether they could insist on me going on the sick in which case I'll only get SSP and potentially lose out on some of my maternity pay too.

I drive around to meetings in different locations, so the job isn't all driving but a big part of it.

Unfortunately you cannot insist on working from home. Your employer is obligated to make adjustments for you but you cannot insist on anything. If the business can not practically make adjustments then yes they can insist that you are signed off for the duration of your pregnancy.

Funky_Bold_Ribena

Can you go by train? Or other public transport?

an9i77

Funky_Bold_Ribena wrote: »

Can you go by train? Or other public transport?

No that wouldn't be feasible the vast majority of the time.

mountainofdebt

I think the main sticking point will be do you need to attend these meetings to do your job and how will working from home fit in with your ability to do your job.

You may find that if you are unable to do your job because you are unable to drive due to the pregnancy, they may be able to force you to take maternity leave early.

btw I think silky was making the point that you wouldn't necessarily be drivng for work when you were taken ill ......but 'm sure you've thought of that (a further point - have you checked your car insurance to see if you would be covered if you were taken ill?)

Funky_Bold_Ribena

an9i77 wrote: »

No that wouldn't be feasible the vast majority of the time.

Not feasible or not possible?

You might find that this is your only option to get to the places that you need to go.